Al-Lamouchi: Tunisia's Goal is to Advance Beyond the Group Stage in the 2026 World Cup

Sabri Lamouchi, the head coach of the Tunisian national team, issued a challenge message just hours before the "Carthage Eagles" begin their journey in the 2026 World Cup, emphasizing that his team's goal is not merely to participate, but to reach the second round despite the difficulty of the task.

The Tunisian national team will begin its journey in the tournament by facing Sweden on Monday, as part of Group F, which also includes Japan and the Netherlands, in one of the strongest groups of the first round.

Lamouchi emphasized that his team enters the competition with clear ambitions, stressing his confidence in the players' ability to surprise and exceed expectations. He said in this regard: "We enter the tournament with a clear mindset and a single goal, which is to qualify for the second round. Few people expect us to be able to do that, but I am confident that we can, and the most important thing for me is to make my players believe that it is possible."

The French coach of Tunisian descent mentioned the former national team captain, Wahbi Khazri, praising his technical abilities. He said, "Wahbi Khazri sometimes trains with the team and still possesses a lot of quality. If I allowed myself a bit of humor, I would say I would love for him to join us."

Lamouchi also addressed a direct message to the Tunisian fans, acknowledging the frustration that accompanied the national team recently, following their exit from the group stage of the Arab Cup, then the round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations, in addition to the heavy 5-0 defeat against Belgium in the last friendly match in preparation for the World Cup.

He added: "I know that Tunisians will stand behind their national team... They have experienced some disappointments, but if we give them reasons to be proud and the players fight on the field, they will support the team. This is what we are trying to build."

Lamouchi hopes that the Tunisian national team will succeed in regaining the trust of its fans with the start of the World Cup by delivering strong performances that reflect the ambitions of the "Carthage Eagles" to surpass the first round and write a new chapter in the history of their World Cup participations.