Tunisia Appoint Hervé Renard as New Head Coach After Sacking Sabri Lamouchi

Tunisia have taken a dramatic early-tournament decision at the 2026 World Cup, dismissing head coach Sabri Lamouchi and appointing Frenchman Hervé Renard as his immediate replacement.

The decision was confirmed by the Tunisian Football Federation following a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Sweden in Tunisia’s opening Group F match.

Tunisia officially announced Lamouchi’s exit late on Monday, bringing an abrupt end to his short World Cup stint.

In an official statement, the federation said Renard would take charge immediately and operate under the same financial terms as the outgoing technical team.

READ ALSO: World Cup: Tunisia To Fire Coach After 5-1 Thrashing By Sweden

“The agreement ties the renowned French coach to the team until the end of the current World Cup campaign. However, both parties have agreed to begin negotiations after the tournament to design a long-term project,” the statement read.

The federation added that Renard’s appointment is strictly for the duration of the tournament, with discussions on a long-term project expected after the competition.

“The urgency of the schedule leaves no room for delay, and the new coach has no time to lose,” the statement noted, confirming that Renard will be formally unveiled at a press conference at the training ground shortly before leading his first training session.

The shock dismissal marks one of the most dramatic coaching decisions in World Cup history, with Tunisia becoming the first team to sack a head coach after just one match in the tournament.

Lamouchi, 54, reportedly paid the price not only for the heavy defeat to Sweden but also for growing tensions with the federation and sections of the squad since his appointment.

The move also revives memories of past instability for the “Carthage Eagles,” who previously changed coaches mid-World Cup during the 1998 tournament in France.

Renard’s appointment marks his third men’s World Cup as a coach with a different national team. He led Morocco in 2018, where they exited in the group stage, and Saudi Arabia in 2022, where they famously defeated Argentina before failing to reach the knockout rounds.

He also coached the French women’s national team at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Australia.

Wahbi Khazri, the former Tunisia international midfielder and Lamouchi’s assistant, will remain on the technical staff under Renard’s leadership.