Tunisia manager Sabri Lamouchi sets 2026 FIFA World Cup target

Tunisia, known as the Carthage Eagles, have reached the World Cup on seven occasions (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022 and 2026). Despite never making it past the group stage, they are renowned as the first African side to secure a World Cup victory.

In the 1978 tournament, Tunisia made history by becoming the first African and Arab nation to win a World Cup game, beating Mexico 3-1. They also held the reigning champions, West Germany, to a goalless draw.

At the 2018 finals in Russia, Tunisia registered their second-ever World Cup win by defeating Panama 2-1. Looking ahead to the 2026 edition, the North Africans have been placed in Group F with the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden.

Although Cameroon were the first African team to reach the quarter-finals and Morocco the first to advance to the semi-finals, Tunisia are still seeking their maiden appearance in the knockout stages.

Tunisia's slim prospects

“That is a target for everyone,” Lamouchi told FIFA.com when asked about Tunisia’s chances of reaching the knockout phase for the first time. “But between having a target and doing everything necessary to achieve it, there are steps to take and opponents to overcome.”

“I tell my players that we certainly cannot win every match. However, we must give our absolute best. That means being selfless for the team from the very start.

“Then we will give ourselves a slightly better chance. I am convinced that with perhaps one or two positive results, there will be realisation and a boost in confidence, because we have young players who are close to reaching the next level and whom we need to help get there.”

Reflecting on 2022, when Tunisia secured a historic win against France but were subsequently eliminated, Lamouchi reminded his nation that winning the World Cup trophy is never simple.

“If we are honest with ourselves, without false modesty, we have no chance of winning this competition,” Lamouchi stated.

“Therefore, we must approach it with determination and conviction, but also with strength to ensure that when we leave, hopefully as late as possible, we have no regrets and are proud of our performances.

“If we feel that pride in what we have achieved, it will be because of the hard work we did earlier. We will have stuck to the plan and the players will have absorbed everything.”

Lamouchi continued: “I do not think Tunisia won a single match at the 2006 World Cup. In 2018, we won one game. In 2022, we also won one game. We drew with Denmark and beat France, but those four points were insufficient to progress.

“This time, under the new format, four points might be enough to qualify. We must fight for those points again, against Sweden in the opening match, against the best team in Asia, Japan, and of course the great side of the Netherlands, who need no introduction.”

‘I prefer to speak about image’

When asked about the legacy he wants Tunisia to leave in 2026, Lamouchi responded: “Legacy? Wow! I will not talk about legacy because when I look at the average age of this squad, I think a wonderful future lies ahead for them.

“I prefer to speak about image, emotions and feelings. I want these players - for some it will be their first World Cup, for others perhaps their last - to feel that they left nothing inside, that they gave everything, enjoyed the experience and gave the Tunisian people great emotions.

“Tunisia is a country of 12, 13, 14 million people, but Tunisians all over the world will be watching. Hundreds of millions, perhaps more, will see the matches against Sweden, Japan and the Netherlands.

“Those will be some fine matches that we get to play in. More than legacy, I want us to be proud of what we have accomplished, and I want the Tunisians to be proud of the image we project.”

Tunisia will begin their campaign against Sweden on 15 June, then face Japan on 21 June before finishing their group matches against the Netherlands on 25 June.