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Tunisia suffered a crushing defeat in their opening Group F fixture at the 2026 World Cup in the early hours of Monday. The North African side was thoroughly outclassed by Sweden, going down 5-1 after goals from Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, Yasin Ayari, and Mattias Svanberg.

It was a night to forget for Tunisia, who struggled to create attacking opportunities throughout the match, generating only 0.28xG over 90 minutes. However, hope has arrived in the form of their newly appointed manager.

The Tunisian Football Federation has turned to a familiar and respected figure in African football — Herve Renard — to steady the ship following the team’s nightmare start to the tournament.

Renard, 57, is best remembered for masterminding Saudi Arabia’s stunning 2-1 victory over eventual champions Argentina in the opening match of the 2022 World Cup. That historic result remains one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history and elevated Renard’s reputation as a coach capable of inspiring underdogs to greatness.

At the international level, Renard’s record speaks for itself. He is the only manager to have won the Africa Cup of Nations with two different nations — Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015 — demonstrating his tactical acumen and motivational power on the biggest stages.

Despite a few blemishes in his club management career, Renard remains one of the most accomplished coaches in international football. His appointment marks Tunisia’s attempt to reignite their campaign and restore belief within their squad.

The Tunisian FA confirmed that Renard has signed a short-term contract that will see him lead the national team until the conclusion of the North American tournament. He replaces Sabri Lamouchi, who was relieved of his duties following a string of disappointing results.

Tunisia’s poor form had been evident even before their heavy defeat to Sweden. Earlier in June, they suffered a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Belgium and a 1-0 loss to 10-man Austria. Prior to those matches, Tunisia had managed only a 0-0 draw against Canada and a narrow 1-0 win over 10-man Haiti — one of the lowest-ranked sides at the 2026 World Cup.

Renard’s immediate task will be to lift the morale of the players and prepare them for their next crucial Group F encounter against Japan. The Asian side has earned a reputation as giant-killers in recent tournaments, and Tunisia will need a dramatic turnaround if they are to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.