The decision by the Tunisian Football Federation to sack French manager Sabri Lamouchi during the 2026 World Cup was not merely a tactical move to get the team back on track. In addition, it brought to the fore one of the rarest occurrences linked to Tunisia in the history of the world’s most popular tournament.
Over more than nine decades of World Cup competition, most national associations have preferred to stand by their managers until the end of the tournament, regardless of the results. They do this because they recognise the difficulty of effecting radical change in such a short space of time. Furthermore, the manager has overseen the national team’s development throughout the qualifying rounds and preparations. Tunisia serves as a rare example of deviation from this norm.
Consequently, cases of sacking during the World Cup have remained extremely rare. Historical records show that Lemosh became only the fifth manager to lose his job during the tournament itself, a list that includes the Pole Henryk Kasperczak with Tunisia.
The French manager thus joins a rare list of names whose World Cup journey ended before the tournament drew to a close—a list on which Tunisia is notably represented.
Tunisia and an unprecedented record
Ironically, the Tunisian national team has set a unique precedent in World Cup history. Tunisia has become the first side to see their manager sacked during the tournament on two separate occasions.
Following the sacking of Henryk Kasperczak during the 1998 World Cup, the ‘Eagles of Carthage’ returned 28 years later to repeat the scenario with Sabri Lamouchi. This happened following a difficult start to the 2026 tournament. As a result, the Tunisian national team is the sole exception in the record of this rare phenomenon and Tunisia stand alone with this unprecedented achievement.
The decision reflects the immense pressure that comes with participating in the World Cup. In this context, every match becomes a make-or-break test. Also, a single result can be enough to completely turn the situation on its head within the national teams of Tunisia and others.
With the reins handed over to French coach Hervé Renard in an attempt to salvage Tunisia’s chances, Lamouchi’s name remains the latest entry in a very short list of coaches. These coaches have been removed from the World Cup by administrative decision before being forced out by on-pitch results, underscoring just how unusual the Tunisia scenario is.
In a tournament that forges the glory of champions and immortalises the names of stars, there is also another, less glamorous side: that of the managers who have paid the price for failure swiftly, finding themselves out of the picture before the world’s biggest football event has even ended—which is exactly what has happened with Tunisia.
Featured image via FIFA / the Canary
By Alaa Shamali
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