2026 World Cup: Tunisia Sacks Coach Sabri Lamouchi Following Dominant 5-1 Sweden Victory

The Tunisian Football Association has dismissed head coach Sabri Lamouchi just one game into the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a crushing 5-1 defeat against Sweden at Estadio Monterrey. The decision, confirmed shortly after the final whistle, sees Mondher Kebaier appointed as the new head coach to lead the Carthage Eagles through their remaining Group F fixtures. Lamouchi’s exit marks the first high-profile managerial casualty of the tournament, reflecting the federation's swift response to a performance that left the team at the bottom of their group.

The match itself was a display of clinical efficiency from the Swedish side, which dominated from the outset. Yasin Ayari opened the scoring with a stunning strike, becoming Sweden’s youngest World Cup scorer since 1990. Alexander Isak doubled the lead on his tournament debut following a brilliant run assisted by Viktor Gyökeres. While Tunisia’s Omar Rekik provided a brief glimmer of hope with a header just before halftime to make it 2-1, Sweden’s relentless attack pulled away in the second half. Gyökeres and Mattias Svanberg—who set a record for the fastest goal by a substitute in World Cup history—further extended the lead before Ayari capped off his brace to finalize the 5-1 scoreline.

Sabri Lamouchi’s tenure ends after only five matches in charge since his appointment in January 2026. Despite his previous experience leading Ivory Coast in the 2014 World Cup, his time with Tunisia was characterized by defensive instability and a lack of offensive output. Under his leadership, the team managed only one victory—a friendly against Haiti—and conceded a total of 11 goals across his brief reign. The heavy defeat to Sweden highlighted long-standing tactical concerns that the Tunisian FA felt required immediate intervention to salvage their campaign.

Tunisia now faces a daunting path to the knockout stages, currently sitting in last place in Group F with zero points and a significant goal deficit. The squad must quickly regroup under Mondher Kebaier for their critical upcoming matches against Japan and the Netherlands. In contrast, Sweden moves to the top of the group standings, buoyed by the standout performances of Isak and Ayari, establishing themselves as formidable contenders as the tournament progresses.