Tunisia Fires Coach After One‑Game World Cup Loss

Tue Jun 16 2026 14:00:14 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Tunisia has let go of Sabri Lamouchi after a 5‑1 defeat to Sweden in their first match of the 2026 World Cup.

Tunisia's head coach Sabri Lamouchi was dismissed following a 5‑1 loss to Sweden, making him the first manager in World Cup history to be sacked after a single game. The Tunisian Football Association confirmed a mutual termination of the contract and appointed former Morocco and Saudi Arabia manager Hervé Renard as interim coach. Lamouchi had only been in charge for five months and won just one of his five games. Tunisia will now face Japan and the Netherlands in their remaining Group F fixtures.

Tunisia has fired head coach Sabri Lamouchi after a 5‑1 loss to Sweden in their opening World Cup match.

The Decision—made just a day after the game—made Lamouchi the first manager in World Cup history to be sacked after only one match.

Tunisia’s football federation said the contract ended by mutual agreement and that former Morocco and Saudi Arabia coach Hervé Renard will take over till the end of the tournament.

Lamouchi was appointed in January, replacing Sami Trabelsi. In his five games as Tunisia’s boss, he won only once—a 1‑0 win over Haiti. He was quoted saying the loss “was painful” and that the team “saw themselves in the foot.”

Tunisia’s next Group F games are against Japan and the Netherlands.