Tunisia eliminated from World Cup 2026 after heavy defeats

Tunisia's hopes of advancing in the 2026 World Cup have been definitively dashed following a heavy 4-0 defeat to Japan. This loss, compounded by an earlier 5-1 thrashing by Sweden, confirms the Carthage Eagles' elimination from the tournament.

The arrival of new coach Hervé Renard, brought in urgently after a disastrous start, failed to ignite the team. Tunisia's defense has been particularly porous, conceding ten goals in their last two matches. The team now sits at the bottom of its group with zero points and a -8 goal difference, facing a daunting final group game against the Netherlands.

This campaign represents Tunisia's worst-ever performance in the World Cup. In their previous six appearances, they had always managed to secure at least one point. This year's struggles stand in stark contrast to their 2022 showing, where they achieved their best-ever result with one win, one draw, and one loss.

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast, despite a late 2-1 loss to Germany, remains in contention with three points. They are favored to advance when they play Curaçao in their final group match, having already secured a better position than Tunisia.