Of all the African nations to have competed at five or more World Cups—2026 marks Tunisia's seventh global appearance—the Eagles of Carthage are the only one never to progress beyond the group stage.
Group Stage Schedule: Tunisia will play twice in Mexico first—against Sweden and Japan—before heading up to Kansas City to take on the Netherlands.
The new format opens the knockout phase up to more teams, but with its lack of star power and coming in as the lowest-ranked team in Group F, Tunisia has a real battle on its hands.
The Road to the World Cup
Qualification record: 9W-0D-1L | Goals for/against: 22/0
Top scorer: Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (4) | Assist leader: Ali Abdi, Naïm Sliti (3)
Nine wins from 10 matches and zero goals conceded was a comprehensive way to punch a ticket to the tournament.
Manager
Manager: Sabri Lamouchi
Former France midfielder Sabri Lamouchi is in charge. Appointed shortly after Tunisia's disappointing round of 16 exit at the Africa Cup of Nations in January, Sabri Lamouchi is an experienced manager; however, this is his first international job in 12 years.
His appointment at the start of the year was something of a full circle moment, born in France but a Tunisian citizen through his parents. He never played nor coached in the country until now.
Time in charge: Since January 2026 | World Cup experience: Côte d'Ivoire (2014)
Playing Style
Preferred formation(s): 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1
Style: Defensive, counterattack
Key strengths: Organization, set pieces
Key weaknesses: Creativity, scoring goals
As a continental heavyweight, African qualifying is not a true reflection of how Tunisia approach matches on a big stage. Technically proficient opponents can expect to have the lion's share of the ball, with the onus on them to then find a way through.
Tunisia won't necessarily press high to win the ball back but will attempt to squeeze any spaces the opposition wants to play in and defend its own penalty area. Getting ahead against it is key because there isn't a great deal of attacking power it can hit back with.
Ability on the ball is key for Tunisia.
X-Factor
Elias Achouri — Tunisia will look to tricky winger Elias Achouri, whose first two-and-a-half years with FC Copenhagen in Denmark yielded 37 goals and assists, for creativity. Fast, powerful and comfortable with both feet, this will be his first taste of a World Cup.
Breakout Star
Ismaël Gharbi — What he lacks in height (5'8") he more than makes up for in dribbling and precise, incisive passing. This graduate of Paris Saint-Germain's academy also has a point to prove to current employers Braga, who loaned him out for the 2025–26 season.
Predicted Starting XI
Tunisia's shape will be flexible given it expects to be on the back foot.
Lamouchi somewhat confused things in March, making his first selection since taking the job and omitting a number of high-profile names to the surprise of fans. Others were called up for the first time in the interest of seeing where fresh blood might be injected into the team.
It doesn't mean the likes of Ferjani Sassi or Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane will miss out on the World Cup, but there are no guarantees. "I hope [Sassi] will be ready for the World Cup. [But] I will put the final list in a way that serves the interests of the national team," Lamouchi told reporters at the time.
Injuries: Hannibal Mejbri, Yan Valery and Dylan Bronn were out of the March fixtures.
Note: Montassar Talbi was left out at his own request for personal reasons.
Following the disappointment of a round of 16 exit at the Africa Cup of Nations—they were a Mali stoppage-time penalty away from the quarterfinals, before extra time and then a shootout defeat—the Eagles of Carthage had a positive but ultimately limited March international break.