TUNISIA

Tunisia is a seven-time World Cup participant, never having advanced past the group stage. At the 2026 World Cup, Tunisia plays in Group F against Japan, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Head coach Sabri Lamouchi, a Franco-Tunisian (since January 14, 2026), is a former France international; he replaced Sami Trabelsi, sacked after an early AFCON exit. The leaders: Hamza Rafia, Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt), Aïssa Laïdouni.

In 1978 in Argentina, Tunisia became the first African national team to win a World Cup match — a 3:1 win over Mexico in the opening group match. That came 28 years after Africa's first World Cup appearance. The team then failed to advance and didn't return for 20 years. Since 1998 Tunisia has played at every World Cup (1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022, 2026) but never progressed — not even a single win per campaign until 2022. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Tunisia sensationally beat France 1:0 in the final group match — but France had already qualified and rested its starters.

Qualifying ended in first place with six wins. Lamouchi, a former Olympiacos and Genoa midfielder, took over five months before kickoff. In Group F the main rival is the Netherlands (June 25 in Kansas City). Matches are in Monterrey, Monterrey, and Kansas City. The team plays a tight 4-4-2 built on physical readiness and counterattacks. The chance for a first-ever round of 16 — but the Netherlands and Japan make this one of the toughest groups.

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