TUNISIA TURN TO WORLD CUP SPECIALIST HERVE RENARD AFTER SABRI LAMOUCHI SACKING
By Luckybets Media Team
Tunisia have officially appointed experienced French coach Herve Renard as their new head coach following the dismissal of Sabri Lamouchi just one match into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Tunisian Football Federation moved quickly after Tunisia’s humiliating 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening Group F match, deciding to part ways with Lamouchi after only five months in charge. The decision made Lamouchi the first coach to lose his job during the 2026 World Cup.
Renard arrives with a reputation as one of international football’s most respected tournament managers. The 57-year-old has built a career around success with national teams, most notably guiding Zambia to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations title and leading Ivory Coast to AFCON glory in 2015.
His World Cup experience also played a major role in Tunisia’s decision. Renard coached Morocco at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and later led Saudi Arabia to one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history when they defeated eventual champions Argentina 2-1 in Qatar in 2022. He also managed the French women’s national team at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, reaching the quarter-finals.
The Tunisian Football Federation confirmed that Renard’s initial contract will run until the end of the 2026 World Cup, with further discussions planned regarding a longer-term agreement after the tournament.
Tunisia now face a difficult task if they are to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive. Their remaining group matches come against Japan on June 20 before a final clash against the Netherlands on June 25.
Renard inherits a team under significant pressure. Tunisia have qualified for the World Cup on six occasions but have never advanced beyond the group stage, and another early exit appeared increasingly likely following the heavy defeat to Sweden.
Lamouchi leaves after overseeing just one victory in five matches. His only win came in a friendly against Haiti in March, while defeats to Belgium and Sweden exposed major weaknesses ahead of and during the tournament.
Speaking after the loss to Sweden, Lamouchi admitted his side had fallen well below expectations.
“It’s painful. We made way too many mistakes. We have our pride. We need to react.”
However, Tunisia’s football authorities decided a change was necessary and have now placed their faith in a coach with a proven record of transforming national teams in major tournaments.
Renard’s immediate challenge will be restoring confidence inside the squad and finding a way to revive Tunisia’s World Cup campaign. With two group matches remaining and qualification still mathematically possible, the experienced Frenchman will hope his tournament pedigree can inspire a rapid turnaround.
For Tunisia, the appointment represents a bold attempt to rescue their World Cup dream before it slips away completely.
