World Cup 2026: Our goal is to leave without regrets – Tunisia coach Sabri Lamouchi

Sabri Lamouchi has set a determined tone ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that Tunisia’s main objective is to compete with pride, intensity and without regrets on football’s biggest stage.

The World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026, will see Tunisia aiming to make a strong impression in a demanding group featuring the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden.

Speaking to FIFA.com, Lamouchi described the tournament as the ultimate dream for every player and emphasized the importance of preparation and attention to detail.

“The World Cup is every player’s childhood dream, and it is the biggest and most watched event in football around the world,” he said.

The Tunisian coach drew on his own experience as a player at the 2014 World Cup with Ivory Coast, where he experienced both highs and heartbreak, including a memorable victory over Japan and a painful late elimination against Greece.

Lamouchi stressed that those experiences shaped his coaching philosophy, particularly the need to remain focused in every moment of the competition.

“We must pay attention to every detail in this tournament, because we are facing the best teams, and we must be ready at the right time,” he added.

He praised Tunisia’s qualification campaign, highlighting their defensive discipline and consistency, especially their ability to progress without conceding a goal during key stages.

However, he admitted that the World Cup presents a completely different challenge, where the intensity and quality of opposition will be significantly higher.

“We are a team that defends collectively, but the World Cup is a different level, and we will face stronger teams with greater intensity,” Lamouchi explained.

The coach also confirmed that Tunisia will introduce some new elements to the squad, although he ruled out major structural changes, stressing the need to maintain balance and cohesion.

Despite the ambition to compete strongly, Lamouchi was realistic about Tunisia’s chances of lifting the trophy, stating that the priority is to fight hard and leave the tournament with pride.

“Honestly, we don’t have a chance of winning the championship, but we must fight with all our might, and leave proud and without regret,” he said.

He also suggested that four points could potentially be enough to progress from the group stage, underlining the competitiveness of their section.

Tunisia’s squad has also attracted attention due to notable selection decisions, with several experienced players absent, including professionals based in the Egyptian league.

The current squad includes only a small group of players who featured at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, including Montassar Talbi, Dylan Bronn, Hannibal Mejbri, Ellyes Skhiri, Ali Abdi and Anis Ben Slimane.

Key omissions include Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane and Seifeddine Jaziri, among others, as Lamouchi looks to refresh the squad ahead of the tournament.

Tunisia will continue their build-up with friendly matches against Austria and Belgium as they fine-tune preparations for the World Cup.

As anticipation builds, Lamouchi has made it clear that Tunisia’s mission is simple: compete fiercely, stay disciplined, and ensure the Carthage Eagles leave the tournament with pride.