Tunisia Fires Coach Sabri Lamouchi After One World Cup Match Following Heavy Defeat

Sabri Lamouchi was dismissed as Tunisia's national football team coach after just one match at the 2026 World Cup. Tunisia suffered a heavy 5-1 loss to Sweden in their opening game, prompting the Tunisian Football Federation to hold an emergency meeting and decide on his immediate removal. Lamouchi, 54, who had been appointed following the dismissal of Sami Trabelsi after Tunisia's exit from the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16, had a brief tenure with only five games coached, recording one win, one draw, and three losses.

Lamouchi revealed in a local podcast that he was surprised by the decision, recounting how he woke up to 27 missed calls from his family before receiving official notice from the federation's president and vice president. Despite players expressing solidarity with him after the defeat, the federation moved quickly to replace him with Arwa Renard, who also struggled to achieve success subsequently.

This early coaching change marks Lamouchi as the first coach to be fired at the 2026 World Cup, highlighting the high stakes and pressures national teams face during the tournament. The Tunisian team's disappointing start and swift coaching change have drawn significant attention in the football community.