Tunisia coach reportedly sacked after World Cup opener loss

Tunisia's head coach, Jalel Kadri, has reportedly been sacked just hours after the team's heavy 1-5 defeat to Sweden in their opening match of the World Cup 2026. The shocking news emerged just days into the tournament, with Tunisia having played only their first game in Group F on June 15 (Vietnam time).

According to reports from Western media outlets, including The Guardian and New York Times correspondent Romain Molina, the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) convened an emergency meeting immediately following the lopsided loss to Sweden. The outcome of this meeting was the decision to dismiss Kadri, who had only been appointed head coach in January 2026.

Kadri took over the national team after Tunisia secured their World Cup 2026 qualification last September, initially under coach Sami Trabelsi. Trabelsi was later fired after a disappointing performance at the Africa Cup of Nations in early 2026, paving the way for Kadri, a French-Tunisian, to assume the role.

However, Kadri's tenure has been marked by disappointment. Between March and the eve of the World Cup, Tunisia played four matches, securing only one win against Haiti, a draw against Canada, and losses to Austria and Belgium. The 1-5 defeat against Sweden proved to be the final straw for Tunisian football leadership, leading to the sacking of the 54-year-old strategist. As of the report, this information was primarily published by The Guardian and New York Times, with no official announcement yet from the FTF.

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This is truly shocking news because the World Cup 2026 has only just begun, and Tunisia has only played its first match.