Africa's finest: Tunisia eye first knockout place

A new last-32 round for the top two teams from the 12 groups and the eight best third-placed sides should give Tunisia a better chance of reaching the knockout stages.

In six previous appearances, the North Africans have gone out after their first three matches.

Their World Cup story began promisingly on 2 June 1978 in Argentina.

Ali Kaabi scored an equaliser against Mexico at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito in Rosario in the 55th minute. Midfielder Néjib Ghommidh put Tunisia ahead with 11 minutes remaining and Mokhtar Dhouieb sealed the win in the 87th minute, making Tunisia the first African and Arab team to win a World Cup match since the tournament began in 1930.

Time for change

Poland beat Tunisia in their next match and a draw against defending champions West Germany in the final group game left them third in the four-team group.

Tunisia were also eliminated in 1998, 2002 and 2006, recording one draw and two defeats at each tournament.

Jalel Kadri, who coached Tunisia at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, regretted his side's inconsistency after they drew with Denmark, lost to Australia and beat France.

"It would have been beautiful to beat France and reach the last 16," Kadri told reporters. "It is our fault for not doing what we needed to do before."

Chance in 2026

Tunisia, who are 44th in Fifa's rankings of 211 national teams, made more history on the road to the 2026 tournament.

They became the first African team to qualify for a World Cup without conceding a goal, winning nine matches and drawing one to top Group H with 28 points from a possible 30.

Sami Trabelsi, who guided that qualifying campaign, left after Tunisia reached the last 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Nearly 50 years after their World Cup debut, Tunisia will play in Group F.

They begin their campaign against Sweden at the Estadio Monterrey on 14 June. Six days later, they face Japan at the same venue. Tunisia then complete the group stage against the Netherlands in Kansas City on 25 June.

Ellyes Skhiri, a veteran of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, will captain the 26-man squad.

'No easy decisions'

"These decisions were not easy," head coach Sabri Lamouchi said when unveiling his squad.

"On the contrary, they were extremely difficult. But I am not looking to make simple decisions, nor am I looking to select players to please anyone other than the Tunisian people - neither now nor during the tournament."

Lamouchi, who coached in Côte d'Ivoire, England, France and Saudi Arabia before replacing Trabelsi in January, said he would give everything to the role.

"From day one, I said that I came to give absolutely everything. I cannot promise success, but I can promise hard work and ambition."