Huge Shock as World Cup Coach SACKED After Horror Showing

Photo: Fifa/Getty Images

Tunisia have become the first nation to make a managerial change at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, dismissing head coach Sabri Lamouchi following their crushing 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening Group F match.

The Tunisian Football Federation confirmed Lamouchi's departure just days after the heavy loss in Monterrey, with the former France international paying the price for a disastrous start to the tournament.

Lamouchi had only been appointed in January and leaves after overseeing just five matches, winning only one of them. Tunisia also suffered a 5-0 defeat to Belgium in a pre-World Cup friendly, adding to concerns over the team's direction heading into the tournament.

In a swift move, Tunisia have appointed experienced French coach Herve Renard for the remainder of their World Cup campaign.

Renard is one of the most respected international coaches in world football, having won the Africa Cup of Nations with both Zambia and Ivory Coast.

He is best remembered on the global stage for leading Saudi Arabia to a famous 2-1 victory over eventual champions Argentina at the last World Cup in Qatar.

Tunisia hope Renard's experience can help rescue their campaign, with crucial group-stage matches against Japan and the Netherlands still to come.

While managerial changes during a World Cup are extremely rare, Tunisia themselves have previous experience of making a change during the tournament.

At the 1998 World Cup in France, Tunisia dismissed coach Henryk Kasperczak after two matches and replaced him with Ali Selmi for their final group game.

However, Lamouchi's dismissal is the first in World Cup history to be sacked after just a single match of the tournament, highlighting the severity of Tunisia's defeat.

With the expanded 48-team World Cup allowing several third-placed teams to progress to the knockout rounds, Tunisia's hopes are not yet over. However, replacing a manager in the middle of the tournament is a major gamble.

Renard has a big job on his hands.