Tunisia Dismisses Coach Sabri Lamouchi After World Cup Defeat

In a surprising turn of events, Tunisia has sacked head coach Sabri Lamouchi after a dismal 5-1 loss to Sweden in their first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This decision, made shortly after the game, marks Lamouchi as the earliest coach to be dismissed in World Cup history. Speculations suggest that off-field issues involving Lamouchi's son may have influenced the decision. Tunisia, which has previously made headlines for coaching changes, will face Japan next before concluding the group stage against the Netherlands. Read on for more details about this unprecedented coaching shake-up.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 15, 2026, 22:48 IST

Tunisia's Shocking Coaching Change

Tunisia has made a surprising decision by parting ways with head coach Sabri Lamouchi following a heavy 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This match took place on June 14 at the Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico. The announcement regarding Lamouchi's dismissal came less than 12 hours after the match concluded on June 15. This marks a historic moment as Lamouchi becomes the earliest coach to be dismissed during a FIFA World Cup. At 54 years old, he is only the fourth coach in history to be relieved of his duties during the tournament, with all previous instances occurring in the 1998 World Cup. Tunisia has now made history by being the first team to sack a coach twice between tournaments. The only other coaches to have faced similar fates mid-tournament are Carlos Alberto Parreira (Saudi Arabia, 1998), Cha Bum-kun (South Korea, 1998), and Henryk Kasperczak (Tunisia, 1998), but they were all dismissed after their teams' second group stage matches. Lamouchi's removal after just one game is unprecedented.

Controversy Surrounding the Decision

It remains uncertain whether Lamouchi's dismissal was due to performance issues or off-field incidents. According to reports from a Tunisian radio station, Mosaique FM, the decision may have stemmed from an altercation involving Lamouchi's son and a Tunisian supporter. Although he does not hold an official position with the team, Lamouchi's son has been seen accompanying the squad and participating in training sessions, which had already sparked controversy prior to the tournament. The report suggests that the decision to terminate Lamouchi was made shortly after the match during a brief meeting between the Tunisian Football Federation and the coach. Lamouchi had taken over the coaching role in January after Tunisia's exit in the Round of 16 at the African Cup of Nations. Tunisia's next match is against Japan on June 21, followed by a clash with the Netherlands on June 25, which will conclude their group stage matches.