Tunisia have moved quickly to overhaul their technical staff at the FIFA World Cup 2026, naming Hervé Renard as head coach following the dismissal of Sabri Lamouchi after an opening-group-stage defeat.

The Carthage Eagles sit at the foot of Group F after a 5-1 hammering by Sweden — a result that left the Tunisian federation with little choice but to act decisively before the tournament slipped beyond reach.

Renard arrives in Monterrey

Renard is expected to touch down in Monterrey on Tuesday and will take charge of his first training session with the squad that same day. His competitive debut on the touchline comes on 20 June, when Tunisia face Japan in a Group F clash that has become a must-win fixture.

The 57-year-old French coach brings with him a wealth of experience at the highest level of both African and international football — qualities the federation is counting on to engineer a turnaround.

A record-breaking African football career

Renard holds a unique distinction in African football: he is the only coach to have lifted the Africa Cup of Nations with two separate nations. He guided Zambia to a stunning continental triumph in 2012, then repeated the feat with Côte d'Ivoire three years later.

His broader CV includes head-coach roles with Morocco and Saudi Arabia, as well as multiple World Cup campaigns. His most celebrated moment in recent memory came at Qatar 2022, where his Saudi Arabia side shocked the world by defeating eventual champions Argentina in the group stage — one of the most stunning upsets in World Cup history.

The Tunisian federation is banking on precisely that kind of big-game pedigree as it attempts to navigate a challenging Group F and extend its stay in the tournament.

Contract and future

Renard's current deal runs through to the end of the FIFA World Cup 2026. However, reports suggest that both parties have already opened dialogue about a possible extension beyond the tournament, should the relationship prove fruitful.