Tunisia arrive at a seventh World Cup with a new man in charge and the most miserly defence in African qualifying behind them. Under Sabri Lamouchi, appointed in January 2026, the Eagles of Carthage are built on organisation, discipline and a spine of European-based talent. Captain Ellyes Skhiri of Eintracht Frankfurt anchors the midfield, Burnley's Hannibal Mejbri adds spark, and Montassar Talbi marshals the back line. Tunisia land in a balanced Group F with the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden, chasing the one prize that has always eluded them: a place in the knockout rounds. This is the squad, the group, the fixtures and the case for history.
Tunisia are organised, hard to break down and stocked with players who have tested themselves in Europe's top leagues. These are the names the campaign will turn on.
The leader. Tunisia's most-capped player and captain, the Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder is the anchor of the side. Composed in possession and relentless without it, Skhiri sets the tempo and gives Tunisia their backbone in the middle of the pitch.
The creator. All energy, drive and invention, Mejbri carries Premier League experience from his time at Burnley. He breaks lines, presses from the front and gives Tunisia the unpredictability they need against organised defences.
The defensive leader. The Lorient centre-back is central to Tunisia's hopes of staying compact against top opposition. Strong in the air and quick to cover, he is the foundation of the defence that powered the qualifying run.
The wall. Consistent and dependable, Dahmen has been a reliable presence in goal through Tunisia's clean-sheet qualifying campaign. His shot-stopping and command of his box are a big part of why this side is so hard to score against.
The fresh threat. The Hannover 96 forward is among the newer faces Lamouchi has leaned on, offering pace and directness in the final third. Tunisia's attack has often been their weak point, and players like Saad are tasked with changing that.
The builder. The former France international took charge in January 2026 and reshaped the squad. He has been to a World Cup as a coach before, leading Ivory Coast in 2014, and brings clarity and tactical discipline to the Eagles of Carthage.
Sabri Lamouchi named a much-changed 26, retaining a core of the 2022 World Cup squad while bringing in fresh talent. Ellyes Skhiri is captain. Below are the confirmed key names by position; club listings can shift over the summer window.
This is a list of the confirmed key names rather than the entire 26. Lamouchi kept faith with experienced heads such as Skhiri, Talbi, Bronn, Mejbri and Anis Ben Slimane while integrating newer faces including Hannover's Elias Saad and Celtic's Sebastian Tounekti. The result is a balanced, defensively solid group that qualified with the best record in African qualifying. Club listings can change over the summer window.
Three threads define Tunisia's 2026 campaign: a new coach, a record-breaking defence, and the long wait for a knockout breakthrough.
A clear identity. Sabri Lamouchi arrived in January 2026 and quickly stamped his discipline on the side, naming a much-changed squad. A World Cup coach before with Ivory Coast, he brings tournament know-how to Tunisia.
The foundation. Tunisia won nine of their ten African qualifiers and drew the other, conceding barely a goal across the campaign. That solidity, built around Talbi and Skhiri, is exactly what travels at a World Cup.
The target. In six previous World Cups Tunisia have never gone beyond the group stage, despite famous wins over Mexico in 1978 and France in 2022. The expanded format gives them their best ever shot at the last 32.
Tunisia were drawn into Group F with the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden. The Netherlands are the seeds and favourites, so Tunisia look set for a tight three-way fight with Japan and Sweden for the places behind them. Two of Tunisia's three games are at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, before they finish in Kansas City.
The opener against Sweden may be the decisive game for Tunisia's hopes, with the Japan meeting another finely balanced contest before they close against the seeded Netherlands. For the full picture of all 104 games, see the WorldCuply.com match schedule, and read our guides to Group F rivals Netherlands and Japan.
Tunisia are not among the favourites, but they have the profile of a side that can spring a surprise in the expanded format:
If Tunisia can take care of business against Sweden and Japan, the knockout stage that has eluded them for nearly five decades is within reach. The attack remains the question, but a side this organised will trouble anyone in Group F.
Tunisia are one of 48 nations heading to the 2026 World Cup. Explore the rest of the WorldCuply.com guide:
Tunisia's Group F opponents and the seeded favourites, Koeman's balanced Oranje with a real shot.
Read the Netherlands guide ›Tunisia's Group F rivals, the Asian side that beats giants, with a Europe-based core.
Read the Japan guide ›Africa's 2022 semi-finalists and AFCON champions, led by Achraf Hakimi, another continental heavyweight.
Read the Morocco guide ›All 104 fixtures across 16 host cities, with kickoff times you can filter to your team.
Open the schedule ›This guide was hand-written from the following reporting and reference pages, used to confirm Tunisia's squad, coach, qualifying record, group and fixtures:
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