Tunisia turn to Hervé Renard after World Cup humiliation against Sweden

Tunisia have moved quickly to appoint experienced French coach Hervé Renard as their new head coach following the dismissal of Sabri Lamouchi after the Carthage Eagles’ crushing 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) acted less than 24 hours after the heavy loss in Monterrey, deciding to part ways with Lamouchi as concerns grew over the team’s performances and prospects in the tournament.

Renard, who was without a coaching role after leaving Saudi Arabia earlier this year, is expected to take charge immediately and lead Tunisia’s preparations for their crucial Group F encounter against Japan.

According to reports, the FTF has offered the 57-year-old a long-term contract that extends beyond the World Cup, viewing him as the ideal candidate to rebuild the national team while also attempting to salvage their current campaign.

The move was reportedly facilitated by Renard’s close friend, sports journalist Smaïl Bouabdellah.

Renard arrived in Mexico accompanied by members of his trusted technical staff, including video analyst Nicolas Baudoin, physical trainer David Barriac, and goalkeeping coach Gilles Le Floch.

He is expected to oversee his first training session shortly after joining the squad.

The appointment marks another major international challenge for Renard, who has built a reputation as one of football’s most successful national team coaches.

He famously guided Zambia to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations title and later led Côte d’Ivoire to AFCON glory in 2015.

He also managed Morocco at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and Saudi Arabia at the 2022 tournament, where they stunned eventual champions Argentina with a historic group-stage victory.

Renard’s return to the World Cup stage comes under difficult circumstances.

Tunisia remain under pressure after their opening defeat and still have demanding fixtures against Japan and the Netherlands.

While the arrival of a high-profile coach has generated optimism, many observers believe the federation’s problems run much deeper than the team’s results on the pitch.

Nevertheless, Tunisia’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages now rest heavily on Renard’s ability to inspire an immediate turnaround as the Carthage Eagles seek to keep their World Cup dream alive.