World Cup 2026: Mondher Kebaier expected to take over Tunisia after Sabri Lamouchi’s sacking

Mondher Kebaier is set to return to the dugout as head coach of Tunisia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the dismissal of Sabri Lamouchi following a heavy opening defeat to Sweden.

Lamouchi was relieved of his duties after Tunisia suffered a crushing 5-1 loss to Sweden in their Group F opener, a result that exposed defensive frailties and left the North African side with an early setback in their tournament campaign.

During his short spell in charge, Lamouchi oversaw five matches, recording just one victory against three defeats, while his team conceded 11 goals across those fixtures — a run that ultimately proved costly ahead of and during the World Cup.

Tunisia’s struggles were further highlighted in the Sweden match, where they were overwhelmed by a clinical Scandinavian side and failed to contain sustained attacking pressure throughout the contest.

The Tunisian Football Federation is now expected to turn to Kebaier, a familiar figure in the national setup, to steady the team’s campaign.

His immediate task will be to revive morale and restore defensive organisation as Tunisia attempt to keep their hopes of progression alive in Group F.

Their next test comes quickly, with a crucial Group F encounter against Japan on the horizon — a fixture that could define the remainder of their World Cup journey.

With qualification hopes already under pressure, Tunisia face a must-improve scenario, where any further slip could end their campaign before it truly begins.