World Cup manager brutally sacked after thrashing in opening game

The first managerial casualty of the 2026 World Cup has emerged just hours after a disastrous opening performance

Only half of the 48 World Cup teams have played their first game of the tournament, but one nation has already axed their manager following a disastrous start to the tournament. Tunisia head coach Sabri Lamouchi, who played for Nottingham Forest in his playing career, has been ruthlessly sacked following their 5-1 thrashing by Sweden in the early hours of Monday morning, according to reports.

talkSPORT report an official statement from Tunisia is imminent while former Sunderland player Wahbi Khazri will serve as interim coach for their next game against Japan on Sunday and is set to remain in charge until the end of the World Cup. Mondher Kebaier has been listed as the early favourite to succeed Lamouchi in the post on a long-term basis.

Yasin Ayari scored a twice for Sweden, who also had Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres and Liverpool's Alexander Isak on the score sheet in Guadalupe, Mexico. Omar Rekik scored a consolation for Tunisia, but it wasn't enough to spare embarrassment for the African side.

Khazri is set to step in to oversee preparations for the remaining group games against Japan and Netherlands, with their next fixture at the World coming against Japan on Saturday June, 20 in Guadalupe.

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Reports from Tunisia suggest the Tunisian Football Federation held an emergency meeting following the full-time whistle against Sweden, following a run of disappointing results leading up to the World Cup. Tunisia were also beaten 5-0 by Belgium in their final warm-up game before travelling to the United States. Lamouchi, who previously managed Forest in the Championship, only lasted five games in charge of the national team after being appointed earlier this year following previous boss Sami Trabelsi’s exit in the aftermath of their failed Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

Tunisia star Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida spoke after the defeat to Sweden and issued a message to the country’s supporters. “We suffered a heavy defeat because of small details and mistakes,” he told La Presse.

“At this level, against a team like Sweden, when you make such serious mistakes, you pay a heavy price. Sweden were more efficient, they exploited all our mistakes. We apologise to the Tunisian public after this defeat.

“We will try to make up for it and correct our course in the next match. We absolutely need more concentration in the future.”

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