Tunisia has officially dismissed head coach Sabri Lamouchi following a disappointing 5-1 loss to Sweden in their World Cup opener held in Monterrey. Hervé Renard, also from France, has been chosen as his replacement.
Lamouchi became the first coaching casualty of this tournament after being appointed in January with a contract extending to 2028. His tenure concluded with only one victory in five matches, which included a 1-0 win against Haiti in March, alongside defeats to Austria and a humiliating 5-0 loss to Belgium in recent warm-up games.
The Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) announced that Renard would lead the team through the remainder of their World Cup journey. In their statement, they noted, “The agreement also stipulates that negotiations will be opened after the World Cup campaign to consider a long-term partnership based on specific sporting objectives,”
Reports from the state-owned broadcaster Television Tunisienne indicate that Renard is scheduled to arrive in Monterrey on Tuesday to join the squad.
Renard, a two-time Africa Cup of Nations champion, previously managed Saudi Arabia at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he famously guided them to a victory over Argentina in the group stage. After taking charge of the French women’s team for the 2023 World Cup and the Paris Olympics, he returned to Saudi Arabia, aiding the men’s team in qualifying for a third consecutive World Cup. He was replaced by Georgios Donis leading up to the tournament.
In Algeria, the Desert Warriors are gearing up for their opening match against defending champions Argentina, hoping to receive strong support from local fans. Lawrence, Kansas, has embraced Algeria, which is based in the city located approximately 40 miles west of Kansas City. Coach Petkovic expressed gratitude for the warm welcome from the community.
Videos showcasing the local support for Algeria have gained traction online, displaying emotional moments of fans donning Algeria scarves and celebrating the team’s presence. More from Daniel Sperry in Lawrence:
“I think everybody’s surprised at it,”
France is set to commence their campaign, featuring a formidable lineup that includes Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise, as they face Senegal in New Jersey. The French team aims to avoid a repeat of their shocking loss to Senegal in the 2002 World Cup, which resulted in their early exit from the tournament.
Luke Entwistle reflects on that historic match, highlighting the pressure on Mbappé and Dembélé to establish a harmonious partnership on the field:
“a blue city in a red state”
World Cup Daily: Our team with the mics are on the ground giving you a podcast daily. In the latest episode, Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Barney Ronay, Dan Bardell, and Sid Lowe to discuss all those draws. Have a listen.
In the Group H match, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay played to a 1-1 draw, as reported by Matt Hughes:
“We competed against Spain, one of the best teams in the world. We are very happy and proud of all the players and people of Cape Verde.”
On the pitch, Saudi Arabia took the lead through Abdulelah al-Amri in the first half, but Uruguay equalized late in the match as Maximiliano Araújo scored from close range after a saved header by Federico Viñas.
In another surprising encounter, Spain was held to a 0-0 draw by Cape Verde, marking a disappointing start for the European champions:
Spain, considered one of the tournament favorites, was expected to dominate Cape Verde but managed only 74% possession without finding the net. The introduction of Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal could not turn the tide for Luis de la Fuente’s squad.
After the final whistle, Cape Verde’s players and fans celebrated exuberantly for securing an unexpected point in their inaugural World Cup match. Goalkeeper Vozinha expressed their joy, stating, “We are completely calm, convinced that there is a long way to go. As we see it, we have seven games left,”
In contrast, Spain’s head coach De la Fuente remained unfazed, asserting confidence in his team’s future. “you are stronger than everything” he noted.
Tunisia’s coaching changes and the surprising results of the World Cup thus far set the stage for an exciting tournament ahead.
Iran faced New Zealand in a tense match that ended in a 2-2 draw, marked by significant struggles for the Iranian team. After the game, head coach Amir Ghalenoei expressed frustration towards FIFA and hinted at issues with the U.S. government regarding their travel arrangements.
“writing history, the whole world is watching you”
He continued, “Our team is the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup. The federation is absent here. Our media isn’t here. Our management team, many of them aren’t here. We used to have a part of a coaching team to help with substitutions but we didn’t have that.”
The Iran captain, Mehdi Taremi, labeled their situation a “disaster” and mentioned that FIFA president Gianni Infantino visited the dressing room, offering encouragement. Infantino reportedly told the players, “You are stronger than everything,” adding that they were “writing history, the whole world is watching you.”
As we reach two-thirds into the group stage matches of the 2026 World Cup, fans are left with a mix of excitement and fatigue. From draws to unexpected performances, this tournament continues to unfold with surprises. Looking ahead, matches like France vs. Senegal and Argentina vs. Algeria promise to add to the excitement. How will our 2022 finalists fare against the fresh faces from Asia and the African champions?
What are your thoughts on the performances so far? Are you watching from home or did you manage to get tickets? Share your predictions and comments via email.
