Tunisia stormed through African qualifying without conceding a single goal in 10 matches, a record shared only with Côte d'Ivoire. However, the road to the 2026 World Cup was marked by constant changes in the dugout, with three different coaches leading the team. Sabri Lamouchi took over shortly after Tunisia's elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations in January, tasked with guiding the Eagles of Carthage to a first-ever knockout stage appearance.
Lamouchi's appointment brought a significant shift in approach. His first squad selection emphasised youth, and he quickly addressed a controversial decision from the 2022 World Cup by confirming only three goalkeepers would travel to the tournament. “For the 2026 World Cup, there will only be three goalkeepers,” he stated in his first press conference, a move welcomed by supporters after the previous four-goalkeeper selection sparked debate.
Tactically, Lamouchi experimented with a 4-3-3 system against Haiti and a 4-2-3-1 formation against Canada in friendly matches. His playing career included Ligue 1 titles with Monaco and Auxerre, and stints at Parma and Inter. As a manager, he previously led Côte d'Ivoire to the 2014 World Cup group stage and has managed clubs including Rennes, Nottingham Forest, and sides in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. No specific World Cup objective is included in his contract, though targets for the next Africa Cup of Nations are clearly defined.
Hannibal Mejbri has become the face of the team since choosing Tunisia in 2021. After struggling to break through at Manchester United, the midfielder has flourished at Burnley, wearing Wahbi Khazri's No 10 shirt and serving as playmaker and unofficial captain. At the last World Cup, he played only 10 minutes; now he is the first name on the teamsheet. Another key talent is Ismaël Gharbi, a 22-year-old attacking midfielder developed at Paris Saint-Germain. Loaned by Braga to Augsburg, Gharbi's playing time has been limited after the coach who brought him to Germany was dismissed, but Lamouchi's faith in him remains strong.
