Tunisia sack Sabri Lamouchi immediately after 5-1 World Cup defeat to Sweden

Tunisia sacked head coach Sabri Lamouchi on Monday, 15 June 2026, less than 24 hours after the national team suffered a 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening World Cup 2026 Group F match in Mexico City . The Tunisian Football Federation announced the dismissal via Instagram, confirming an immediate agreement to terminate Lamouchi’s contract following the heaviest defeat in the country’s World Cup history.

The federation stated that an interim successor would be appointed “very soon,” with Mondher Kebaier widely expected to take charge ahead of Tunisia’s next Group F fixtures against Japan and the Netherlands . The decision reflects the federation’s refusal to tolerate the catastrophic performance in Mexico City, where Sweden dominated from the outset, taking a 3-0 lead inside the first 30 minutes. Tunisia’s solitary goal came late in the second half, but the damage had already been done.

Lamouchi, a former French international and Ligue 1 manager, had been appointed in 2024 with the mandate to rebuild Tunisia’s squad after their disappointing 2022 World Cup campaign. His dismissal marks the swiftest coaching exit in World Cup history, eclipsing even the record set by Brazil’s Tite in 2018, who left after a quarter-final defeat. Tunisian media outlets described the sacking as “inevitable” following the 5-1 humiliation, with local broadcasters and pundits calling for wholesale changes across the technical staff .

The federation’s announcement capped a day of recrimination in Tunisian football circles. Social media erupted with criticism of the players’ fitness levels, tactical decisions, and the federation’s own governance. Analysts noted that Tunisia’s campaign now hangs by a thread, with a second consecutive loss likely to trigger an early exit from the tournament. Kebaier, a former club coach with limited international experience, faces the unenviable task of steadying the ship before the June 20 and June 25 fixtures.

For Lamouchi, the dismissal ends a two-year tenure marked by promise but ultimately undone by the pressure of elite competition. His exit underscores the unforgiving nature of modern football management, where a single poor performance can erase years of progress. Tunisia’s football authorities have opted for radical action, gambling on a reset that may yet salvage a tournament already marred by underperformance.