Tunisia have acted swiftly following their disastrous start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, dismissing head coach Sabri Lamouchi and appointing experienced French manager Herve Renard as his replacement.
Lamouchi becomes the first managerial casualty of the tournament after a difficult spell that failed to produce the results Tunisian football officials had hoped for when he was appointed earlier this year.
The former Ivory Coast international took charge of the Carthage Eagles in January on a contract that was originally scheduled to run until 2028. However, a poor run of results and an alarming World Cup performance ultimately brought his tenure to an abrupt end.
Tunisia managed just one victory in five matches under Lamouchi. Their only win came against Haiti in March, while defeats to Austria, Belgium and Sweden exposed persistent problems ahead of and during the tournament.
The warning signs had already appeared in Tunisia’s World Cup preparations.
A narrow 1-0 defeat to Austria was followed by a heavy 5-0 loss to Belgium during their warm-up campaign. Those setbacks raised concerns about the team’s readiness for the tournament, concerns that intensified after Sweden’s dominant display in Monterrey.
Faced with the prospect of crucial group-stage matches against Japan and the Netherlands, Tunisian football authorities decided immediate action was necessary.
In a statement published on social media, the Tunisian Football Federation announced that Herve Renard would take charge of the national team for the remainder of their FIFA World Cup campaign.
“The agreement also stipulates that negotiations will be opened after the World Cup campaign to consider a long-term partnership based on specific sporting objectives,” the federation stated.
According to Tunisia’s state broadcaster Television Tunisienne, Herve Renard was expected to arrive in Monterrey later on Tuesday to begin work with the squad ahead of their next match.
The appointment brings one of international football’s most respected tournament coaches back to the global stage.
Renard has built a reputation as a specialist in major competitions and remains one of the most successful coaches in African football history. He won the Africa Cup of Nations twice, first with Zambia in 2012 and later with Ivory Coast in 2015.
His reputation grew even further during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar when he guided Saudi Arabia to one of the greatest upsets in tournament history. Saudi Arabia stunned eventual champions Argentina in the group stage, producing a result that remains one of the defining moments of that World Cup.
Following that success, Herve Renard left Saudi Arabia to take charge of the French women’s national team. He later led France at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Paris Olympic Games before returning to Saudi Arabia to help secure qualification for a third consecutive FIFA World Cup.
His extensive experience in international football was undoubtedly a major factor behind Tunisia’s decision to appoint him at such a critical stage of the tournament.
The latest coaching change also continues a period of instability within Tunisian football.
Earlier this year, Tunisia parted ways with Sami Trabelsi following the team’s disappointing exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Trabelsi left his position after Tunisia were eliminated by Mali in the round of 16 under dramatic circumstances. Despite playing against 10 men for more than 90 minutes following Woyo Coulibaly’s early red card, Tunisia failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage.
The Carthage Eagles took the lead in the 88th minute but conceded a penalty deep into stoppage time before eventually losing in a penalty shootout.
Shortly after that defeat, the Tunisian Football Federation announced it had “decided to terminate the contractual relationship by mutual consent” with Trabelsi and his technical staff.
Now, Tunisia once again find themselves turning to a new coach in search of immediate improvement.
Renard’s first task will be restoring confidence after the heavy defeat to Sweden. More importantly, he must quickly prepare the team for decisive World Cup clashes against Japan and the Netherlands.
Tunisia’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stages remain alive, but there is little margin for error.
The federation clearly believes Renard’s experience, leadership and tournament pedigree can inspire a turnaround. Whether he can transform Tunisia’s fortunes in such a short period may determine how far the Carthage Eagles can go at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
