World Cup 2026: Tunisia president Kaïs Saïed charges players to play with winning mentality at tournament

Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed has delivered a strong motivational message to the national team ahead of the FIFA World Cup, urging the players to abandon a “participation mentality” and embrace a culture of ambition, discipline, and victory.

The expanded 2026 World Cup will kick-start on Thursday, with 48 nations set to battle it out for the covetous trophy.

Addressing the team ahead of the tournament, the President emphasized that simply appearing at the World Cup is no longer enough, calling for a complete shift in mindset as the team prepares to compete on football’s biggest stage.

According to Saïed, the era of being satisfied with participation alone must end, and every player must now approach the tournament with determination and belief in success.

“Gone are the days of participating in the World Cup just for the sake of participation! From now on, everyone must adopt a spirit of challenge and the pursuit of victory,” he said.

He further stressed that mental strength and collective commitment are just as important as technical ability, warning against complacency and defeatist attitudes within the team.

“The culture of defeat is more dangerous and more destructive than defeat itself in all fields. Every player must fulfill their role with a steel will and an unwavering winning mentality,” he added.

The message comes as Tunisia, represented by the Tunisia national football team, continues its preparations for the tournament, where expectations from fans remain high despite the competitive nature of global football.

The Carthage Eagles have built a reputation as one of Africa’s disciplined and tactically organized sides, but have often struggled to progress deep into the knockout stages of the World Cup. President Saïed’s remarks appear aimed at reshaping the psychological approach of the team as much as their tactical preparation.

His comments also reflect a broader national ambition to see Tunisian football move beyond group-stage participation and begin challenging more consistently against the world’s elite football nations.

As preparations continue, the message from the country’s leadership adds additional pressure but also motivation for the squad, who will be expected to respond with performances that match the growing aspirations of their supporters.

With the tournament approaching, Tunisia will be hoping to translate this call for a winning mentality into results on the pitch and potentially achieve a historic breakthrough on the world stage.