The Carthage Eagles have qualified for the World Cup seven times (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022, and 2026). While they have never advanced past the group stage, they are celebrated for being the first African team to win a World Cup match.
During the 1978 edition, Tunisia made history by becoming the first African and Arab nation to win a World Cup match, defeating Mexico 3-1. They also held the defending champions, West Germany, to a 0-0 draw.
In 2018 in Russia, Tunisia recorded their second-ever World Cup win by beating Panama 2-1. Ahead of the 2026 edition, the North Africans have been drawn in Group F alongside Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden.
While Cameroon became the first African team to reach the quarter-finals and Morocco the first to advance to the semi-finals, Tunisia are still searching for a first appearance in the knockout rounds.
Tunisia with little chance
“That’s an objective for everyone, but between having an objective and doing everything in order to achieve it, there are stages, there are opponents,” Lamouchi told FIFA.com when asked about Tunisia’s chances of reaching the knockout stage for the first time.
“I say to my players that we certainly can’t win every match. However, we have to give it our all. This means being selfless for the team from the moment we start.
“Then we’ll give ourselves a little more of a chance. And I’m convinced that with maybe one or two good results, there’ll be a realisation, there’ll be a boost of confidence, because we have young players who are not far from taking it to the next level and whom we have to help to reach that next level.”
Looking back to 2022, when Tunisia secured a historic victory against France but went on to be knocked out, Lamouchi reminded his nation it is not always easy to win the World Cup trophy.
“If we're honest with ourselves, without any false modesty, we have no chance of winning this competition,” offered Lamouchi.
“So, we have to tackle it full of determination and conviction, but with strength to ensure that when we do leave, hopefully as late as possible, we have no regrets, and we're proud of the performances that we put in.
“If we have that pride in what we've achieved, it will be because of the hard work we put in earlier. We will have followed the plan, and the players will have taken everything on board.”
Lamouchi continued: “I don't think Tunisia won a single game at the 2006 World Cup. In 2018, we won one match. And in 2022, we won one match. We drew with Denmark and we beat France, but those four points were not enough to qualify.
“This time, under the new format, four points might be enough to qualify. We have to fight for those points again, against Sweden in the first match, against the best team in Asia, Japan, and of course, the great side of the Netherlands, who need no introduction.”
‘I prefer to talk about image’
On what legacy he wants Tunisia to leave in 2026, Lamouchi responded: “What legacy? Wow! I won’t talk about legacy because when I look at the average age of this team, I tell myself that a wonderful future awaits them.
“I prefer to talk about image, emotions and feelings. I want these players – for some it will be their first World Cup and for others perhaps their last – to feel they left nothing inside themselves, that they gave everything, enjoyed the experience and gave the Tunisian people great emotions.
“Tunisia is a nation of 12, 13, 14 million people, but Tunisians all over the world will be watching. Hundreds of millions, maybe more, who will watch the matches against Sweden, Japan and the Netherlands.
“Those will be some great matches we’ll get to play in. More than legacy, I want us to be proud of what we’ve accomplished and I want the Tunisians to be proud of the image that we portray.”
Tunisia will kick off their campaign against Sweden on June 15th, tackle Japan on June 21st before winding up their group matches against Netherlands on June 25th.