The 2026 FIFA World Cup has claimed its first managerial victim. In latest breaking and shocking news of the day, Tunisia have sacked head coach Sabri Lamouchi after just one match of the tournament following a humiliating 5-1 defeat against Sweden in their Group F opener.
The decision makes Lamouchi the first coach to lose his job at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and ranks among the quickest managerial dismissals in the history of the global tournament.
The Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) moved swiftly following the crushing defeat, announcing the Frenchman’s departure less than 24 hours after one of the heaviest losses in the country’s World Cup history.
Tunisia Confirm Lamouchi’s Exit
The federation released an official statement confirming the decision.
“An agreement has been officially reached to dismiss coach Sabri Lamouchi.”
The statement further revealed plans for an immediate replacement.
“Plans are under way to appoint Mondher Kebaier as the national team coach [on an interim basis].”
The announcement brought an abrupt end to Lamouchi’s short and turbulent spell in charge.
A World Cup Dream Turns Into A Nightmare
What was supposed to be Tunisia’s opportunity to make a statement on football’s biggest stage quickly descended into disaster in Monterrey.
Sweden produced a ruthless attacking display to dismantle the Carthage Eagles 5-1 and leave their World Cup hopes hanging by a thread after just one match.
The defeat was not only damaging because of the scoreline.
It exposed glaring weaknesses throughout the Tunisian side and reportedly intensified tensions that had already been simmering behind the scenes.
The World Cup humiliation ultimately proved to be the final straw.
Sweden Run Riot
The warning signs appeared almost immediately.
Sweden took the lead after just seven minutes through Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari.
The 22-year-old unleashed a thunderous strike into the top corner following sloppy Tunisian defending.
The goal carried extra significance.
Ayari, whose father is Tunisian, chose not to celebrate after becoming Sweden’s youngest World Cup goalscorer since Tomas Brolin in 1990.
Things went from bad to worse for Tunisia when Liverpool striker, Alexander Isak doubled Sweden’s lead after 30 minutes.
The £125 million forward showcased his quality with a powerful run and clinical finish into the bottom corner after combining brilliantly with strike partner Viktor Gyokeres.
The Arsenal striker held off his marker before releasing Isak into space.
Tunisia briefly found hope before halftime.
Defender Omar Rekik rose highest to head home from a Hannibal Mejbri free-kick, reducing the deficit to 2-1 and giving the North Africans a lifeline.
But any thoughts of a comeback quickly disappeared.
Isak And Gyokeres Tear Tunisia Apart
The second half belonged entirely to Sweden.
Isak turned creator on the hour mark, supplying Gyokeres for Sweden’s third goal and restoring their two-goal cushion.
The Liverpool star was not finished.
Just 24 minutes later, Isak produced another assist, this time for substitute Mattias Svanberg.
Remarkably, Svanberg scored only 18 seconds after entering the pitch.
The strike became the second-fastest goal scored by a substitute in World Cup history since records began in 1966, trailing only Richard Morales’ 16-second effort for Uruguay against Senegal in 2002.
Ayari then completed the rout with another spectacular long-range strike to make it 5-1 and cap a memorable night for Graham Potter’s side.
The result sent Sweden to the top of Group F and left Tunisia reeling.
Pressure Had Been Building For Months
Although the World Cup defeat triggered the dismissal, Lamouchi had already been under significant pressure.
The 54-year-old was only appointed in January but never fully convinced supporters or federation officials.
His team suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Belgium in a pre-World Cup friendly in Brussels, raising serious doubts about Tunisia’s readiness for the tournament.
Those concerns only intensified after the collapse against Sweden.
Lamouchi’s overall reign lasted just five matches.
History Repeats Itself For Lamouchi
Ironically, this is not the first time Lamouchi’s World Cup ambitions have ended in disappointment.
The French coach previously managed Ivory Coast at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Despite possessing a talented squad featuring several stars, the Elephants failed to progress beyond the group stage.
More than a decade later, another World Cup chapter has ended painfully for the former midfielder.
This time, even faster.
Kebaier Set For Emergency Rescue Mission
Attention now turns to former Tunisia boss Mondher Kebaier, who is expected to take charge on an interim basis.
Kebaier is a familiar figure within Tunisian football and could be tasked with rescuing a campaign that is already on life support.
Reports have also linked former Sunderland and Tunisia star Wahbi Khazri with a possible coaching role.
Whoever takes over faces an enormous challenge.
Tunisia still have two difficult fixtures remaining against Japan and the Netherlands.
Anything less than a positive result against Japan could effectively end their World Cup journey.
The Road Ahead: Can Tunisia Recover?
The Carthage Eagles will return to the same stadium in Guadalupe on Saturday knowing their World Cup survival depends on victory against Japan.
A second defeat would almost certainly eliminate them from contention.
After that comes a daunting showdown against the Netherlands.
The expanded 48-team format offers additional routes to qualification through the best third-placed teams, but Tunisia have already severely damaged their chances with a goal difference of minus four.
The task now is not just mathematical.
It is psychological.
The players must somehow recover from the humiliation of Sweden, adjust to a new coach and rediscover belief in a matter of days.
A Historic But Painful World Cup Record
For Tunisia, the 2026 World Cup will forever be remembered for an unwanted piece of history.
Sabri Lamouchi has become the first manager to be sacked during the tournament.
For Tunisia, however, it was simply a nightmare from which there was no waking up.
One match.
One crushing defeat.
One historic dismissal.
And now, a World Cup campaign hanging by a thread.
