A World Cup team has reportedly dismissed their head coach after only one match in the tournament, with an official statement expected shortly regarding the decision.
Tunisia’s head coach Sabri Lamouchi, who previously played for Nottingham Forest during his career, has been fired following their 5-1 loss to Sweden in the early hours of Monday morning, according to reports.
TalkSPORT indicates that Tunisia is expected to make an official announcement, while former Sunderland player Wahbi Khazri will serve as interim coach for their next match against Japan on Sunday and is anticipated to remain in charge until the end of the World Cup. Mondher Kebaier is reportedly the early favorite to permanently replace Lamouchi, according to the Mirror.
Sabri Lamouchi during a Tunisia press conference at the 2026 FIFA World Cup (Image: Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
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Brighton’s Yasin Ayari netted twice for Sweden, with Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres and Liverpool’s Alexander Isak also scoring. Omar Rekik grabbed a consolation goal for Tunisia, but it was not enough to save the African side from embarrassment or apparently preserve the manager’s position.
Reports from Tunisia indicate that the Tunisian Football Federation held an emergency meeting after the final whistle against Sweden, which followed a string of poor results leading into the World Cup. Tunisia also lost 5-0 to Belgium in their final warm-up match before heading to the United States.
Lamouchi lasted just five games in charge of the national team after being hired earlier this year, following former boss Sami Trabelsi’s departure after their failed Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
Tunisia’s prospects in Group F appear bleak, with Japan and the Netherlands still to face in the next 11 days. Defender Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida issued an apology to the country after the defeat.
“We suffered a heavy defeat because of small details and mistakes,” he told La Presse. “At this level, against a team like Sweden, when you make such serious mistakes, you pay a heavy price. Sweden were more efficient, they exploited all our mistakes. We apologise to the Tunisian public after this defeat.
“We will try to make up for it and correct our course in the next match. We absolutely need more concentration in the future.”
According to GB News, rumors of tension have circulated around the Tunisia camp following the match, while other reports on social media have claimed there was a ‘fight’ involving Lamouchi’s son and a supporter at the team’s hotel. The role of Lamouchi’s son in the national team setup is unclear.