Tunisia National Football Team at World Cup 2026

The Eagles of Carthage won CAF Group H and qualified for their seventh World Cup under Sabri Lamouchi — appointed January 2026 following Sami Trabelsi's departure after AFCON 2025. Group F places Tunisia against the Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden — a technically demanding but achievable campaign for North Africa's most tactically organized side.

Tunisia national football team featured graphic

The Tunisia national football team enters the 2026 FIFA World Cup under Sabri Lamouchi — appointed in January 2026 after Sami Trabelsi's departure following the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations exit. Tunisia won CAF Group H to qualify directly, with Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane scoring the crucial goal to confirm their place. Group F places them against the Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden — three technically capable opponents in what is widely considered one of the 2026 tournament's most competitive groups. Group F results are live on our World Cup 2026 standings .

Ellyes Skhiri is Tunisia's midfield engine — an experienced, technically refined central midfielder whose performances across European clubs have made him one of CAF's most professionally proven international players. Hannibal Mejbri provides youthful creative energy and Premier League awareness. Montassar Talbi gives the backline Premier League experience at the central defensive level. This is Tunisia's seventh World Cup and a squad that has consistently been one of Africa's most organized and tactically disciplined for three consecutive tournaments. Full fixture details are on the match schedule .

Tunisia Standings and Ranking

Category Detail
2026 World Cup Qualification CAF Group H winners
World Cup Group Group F (Netherlands, Japan, Sweden)
Major Honours Africa Cup of Nations 2004; 7 World Cup appearances (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022, 2026)
Current FIFA Ranking 44th (April 2026)
Highest-Ever FIFA Ranking 14th (2017)
World Cup Appearances 7 (including 2026)
Best World Cup Result Group stage (six previous tournaments)

Tunisia Squad and Tactics

Tunisia Current Squad

FWC LIVE's current TUN squad tracker highlights the players called up for the March 2026 international window. Final FIFA 26-man tournament rosters will be confirmed by May 2026.

Goalkeepers

16
TUN
GK

Aymen Dahmen

CS Sfaxien

1
TUN
GK

Noureddine Farhati

Stade Tunisien

22
TUN
GK

Mouhib Chamakh

Club Africain

Defenders

3
TUN
DF

Ali Abdi

Nice

20
TUN
DF

Yan Valery

Sheffield Wednesday

4
TUN
DF

Alaa Ghram

Shakhtar Donetsk

15
TUN
DF

Omar Rekik

Maribor

2
TUN
DF

Adem Arous

Kasimpasa

12
TUN
DF

Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida

Esperance de Tunis

Midfielders

17
TUN
MF

Ellyes Skhiri

Eintracht Frankfurt

6
TUN
MF

Rani Khedira

Union Berlin

10
TUN
MF

Anis Ben Slimane

Norwich City

14
TUN
MF

Hadj Mahmoud

Lugano

8
TUN
MF

Aïssa Laïdouni

Al-Wakrah

Forwards

7
TUN
FW

Khalil Ayari

PSG

11
TUN
FW

Louey Ben Farhat

Karlsruhe

19
TUN
FW

Anisse Saidi

San Diego FC

9
TUN
FW

Rayan Elloumi

Vancouver Whitecaps

Playing Style

Tunisia are most comfortable in a compact 4-3-3 with Skhiri screening the back line and Hannibal Mejbri linking the midfield to the front three. Lamouchi has leaned on short defensive distances, narrow pressing around the center, and quick wide support from full-backs like Ali Abdi and Yan Valery. That structure helps Tunisia stay organized against possession-heavy opponents while still carrying numbers into the final third.

In possession, Tunisia look for clean central circulation before releasing runners from the flanks or attacking second balls around the box. The March 2026 call-ups also give Lamouchi a younger attacking mix through Louey Ben Farhat, Khalil Ayari, and Anisse Saidi, so the side can attack with more speed than earlier cycles. Because Group F includes the Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden, Tunisia's best path will come from disciplined defending, set-piece value, and efficient transitions.

Head Coach: Sabri Lamouchi

Lamouchi took charge in January 2026 and immediately inherited a squad with enough experience to stay tactically stable. His priority is to keep Tunisia compact without losing the midfield control and attacking balance needed to chase a first World Cup knockout-round place.

LAMOUCHI
Head Coach

Sabri Lamouchi

World Cup 2026 head coach

Team Facts

  • Group F - Tunisia face the Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden in one of the tougher 2026 groups.
  • World Cup appearances - 2026 is Tunisia's seventh FIFA World Cup appearance.
  • Best result - Tunisia have reached the group stage in each of their previous six World Cup campaigns.

Tunisia Probable Lineup (4-3-3)

Tunisia can keep Skhiri central, ask Hannibal Mejbri to connect midfield and attack, and use a wide front three to stretch the game. Without the ball, the shape can quickly flatten into a disciplined 4-5-1.

Position Likely Option
GK Aymen Dahmen
Defenders Yan Valery, Montassar Talbi, Alaa Ghram, Ali Abdi
Midfielders Ellyes Skhiri, Hannibal Mejbri, Aïssa Laïdouni
Attackers Louey Ben Farhat, Seifallah Ltaief, Elias Achouri

Tunisia Team Kits (2026)

Tunisia's 2026 World Cup kits feature the national colors of red and white referencing the Tunisian flag. Kappa supplies Tunisia's international kits. The white home shirt with red accent detailing — worn across their seven World Cup appearances — is the Eagles of Carthage's most recognizable international tournament uniform identity.

Home

Home Kit

Tunisia 2026 Home Kit

White Kappa shirt with red accent detailing referencing the Tunisian national flag's striking red crescent and star composition.

Away

Away Kit

Tunisia 2026 Away Kit

Red Kappa shirt with white accent detailing.

Kit Design Details

  • Home — White Kappa shirt with red accent detailing referencing the Tunisian national flag's striking red crescent and star composition.
  • Away — Red Kappa shirt with white accent detailing.
  • Third — yet to be confirmed for the 2026 tournament cycle.
  • Goalkeeper — yet to be confirmed for the 2026 tournament cycle.

Tunisia 2026 Style, Strengths, and Tournament Outlook

Tunisia enter the 2026 World Cup as one of Africa's most experienced World Cup nations with their seventh tournament appearance — and a squad that features European club quality in Skhiri, Hannibal Mejbri, and Talbi that gives Lamouchi an organized and technically capable team for the Group F challenges. The Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden are all formidable opponents, but Tunisia's defensive discipline and set-piece quality give them competitive possibilities against all three.

At the FIFA World Cup 2026 , Tunisia's Group F mission is to advance past the group stage for the first time in their seven World Cup appearances. Lamouchi's organized 4-3-3 system and Skhiri's midfield control give the Eagles of Carthage the tactical platform to compete — and if Hannibal Mejbri's creative quality connects with the goal-scoring threat from attacking positions, Tunisia have the individual excellence to achieve the group-stage breakthrough that has eluded every previous Tunisian World Cup squad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Tunisia's head coach for World Cup 2026?

Sabri Lamouchi was appointed Tunisia's head coach in January 2026, replacing Sami Trabelsi following the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations exit. The French-Tunisian former international has coaching experience with Ivory Coast's national team and multiple European clubs.

What group is Tunisia in at World Cup 2026?

Tunisia are in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden — one of the 2026 World Cup's most competitive groups, with four technically different but capable teams competing for two qualification places.

How did Tunisia qualify for World Cup 2026?

Tunisia qualified by winning CAF Group H — with Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane's goal securing the decisive qualification result. This is Tunisia's seventh World Cup appearance, establishing them as one of Africa's most consistently qualifying nations.

Who is Tunisia's most important player?

Ellyes Skhiri is Tunisia's midfield anchor and most experienced international player — a technically refined central midfielder whose European club experience gives the Eagles of Carthage their most reliable quality in the crucial engine-room positions.

Conclusion

Tunisia arrive at the 2026 World Cup for their seventh tournament with a new coach, an experienced squad, and the ambition to achieve what six previous Tunisian World Cup generations could not — advancing past the group stage. Lamouchi's tactical organization, Skhiri's midfield quality, Hannibal Mejbri's creative talent, and the collective defensive discipline that made Tunisia one of CAF's most consistently competitive qualifying nations give the Eagles of Carthage all the ingredients for a historic Group F performance in North America.