Tunisia at the 2026 World Cup

Tunisia arrive at the 2026 World Cup carrying the hopes of North African football and a squad that blends European club experience with genuine technical quality. Ranked 34th in the world by FIFA, the Eagles of Carthage are no strangers to the tournament, and under the guidance of veteran coach Faouzi Benzarti they will be aiming to make a meaningful impression on the global stage. CAF's qualification process tested them, as it always does, and the reward is a place in Group F where the challenge of reaching the knockout rounds will demand their very best football from the first whistle.

Group F context

Group F presents Tunisia with a demanding but not insurmountable set of fixtures. The Eagles will need to assess their opponents carefully, knowing that the expanded 48-team format offers a slightly wider path to the round of 16 than in previous editions. Three teams advance from each group under the new structure, which eases the margin for error ever so slightly. Tunisia's FIFA ranking of 34 places them among the more credible African representatives in the competition, and they will look to capitalise on that standing. The squad's familiarity with European football, drawn largely from clubs across Switzerland, Germany, France, England and Scandinavia, means the players will not be overawed by high-tempo, physical opposition. Every point in the group stage will matter enormously, and the opening fixture is likely to set the tone for Tunisia's entire campaign.

Manager: Faouzi Benzarti

Faouzi Benzarti is one of the most experienced and decorated coaches in Tunisian football history, a figure who has guided the national side on multiple separate occasions and who carries enormous respect within the domestic game. His knowledge of Tunisian football's rhythms and the temperament of the players at his disposal gives him a significant advantage when it comes to tournament preparation. Benzarti favours disciplined, organised football with a clear tactical shape, and he has shown throughout his career that he can adapt his approach depending on the availability of personnel. His experience of managing through high-pressure qualification campaigns will serve the squad well when the tension of the knockout picture sharpens in the latter stages of the group. The key question is whether he can extract the best from a generation of players who are entering their prime years at precisely the right moment.

Squad and key players

Tunisia's squad combines youth and experience across every line. In goal, Aymen Dahmen brings dependability at 29, while the defensive unit includes established European-based performers alongside emerging young talent. The midfield carries genuine quality, and the forward line offers a range of profiles from direct wide runners to technically gifted creators. Several players have spent formative years at European academies before committing to Tunisia, and that development pathway is reflected clearly in the technical standard of the group.

• Ellyes Skhiri (Midfielder) The Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder is arguably the most important player in the squad, bringing Bundesliga experience, leadership and an ability to control the tempo of a game. At 31, he is at peak maturity and his reading of the game will be central to how Tunisia perform in the middle third of the pitch.
• Hannibal (Midfielder) The 23-year-old Burnley midfielder has long been regarded as one of the most exciting young players from the African continent. His energy, technical range and willingness to carry the ball forward make him a dynamic and unpredictable presence in central areas.
• Anis Slimane (Midfielder) Operating from Norwich City, Slimane brings creativity and an eye for a pass that can unlock defensive structures. At 25, he has the potential to be a genuine difference-maker when Tunisia need to break down organised opposition.
• Montassar Talbi (Defender) The Lorient centre-back is a composed and assured presence at the heart of the defence. At 27, Talbi has accumulated significant Ligue 1 experience and will be expected to organise those around him throughout the tournament.
• Sebastian Tounekti (Forward) The 23-year-old Celtic forward offers pace, directness and an ability to stretch defensive lines. His performances in Scotland have demonstrated that he can handle physical, demanding league football, and he brings that confidence into the international arena.
• Ismaël Gharbi (Forward) The FC Augsburg attacker is one of the more technically gifted players in the squad at just 22 years of age. His ability to operate in tight spaces and create moments of quality in the final third gives Tunisia an important weapon in attacking transitions.

Tactical outlook

Benzarti is likely to organise Tunisia in a compact, defensively disciplined shape that prioritises structure without sacrificing the ability to transition quickly. A midfield three anchored by Skhiri, with Hannibal and Slimane providing mobility and creativity either side, gives the team balance across the central areas. Defensively, Talbi and Dylan Bronn of Servette will be expected to form a reliable partnership at centre-back, supported by full-backs who are comfortable contributing in both phases of play. Ali Abdi of Nice brings experience at right back, while Yan Valery of Young Boys offers another option wide. Going forward, Tunisia will look to use the pace and movement of their attacking players to exploit space in behind, with quick transitions being a likely feature of their best performances. Set pieces could also prove to be a meaningful source of goals given the physicality and aerial presence within the squad.

Route through the tournament

Tunisia's most realistic aim is to secure qualification from Group F and reach the round of 16, a stage that has historically represented a ceiling for African sides but one that this generation is capable of surpassing. The expanded format means that finishing third in the group is still sufficient for progression in many cases, which gives Benzarti's side a degree of flexibility in how they approach individual fixtures. The key matches will likely be those against the opponents closest to them in quality, where the ability to stay organised under pressure and take their chances in front of goal will be decisive. A strong opening result would provide significant psychological momentum. Beyond the group stage, the draw would determine the scale of the challenge, but Tunisia will not fear any opponent if they arrive in form and with the squad fully fit.

Title outlook

Tunisia lifting the World Cup trophy in 2026 is not a realistic expectation, and no honest analysis would suggest otherwise. The gap in depth and resources between the Eagles of Carthage and the traditional heavyweight nations remains substantial. However, that framing does not diminish the significance of what this squad could achieve. A run to the last 16 would represent genuine progress, and should circumstances align, pushing further into the knockout rounds is not entirely beyond imagination. The real measure of success for Tunisia will be whether they can play their best football consistently across three group games, present a clear tactical identity and leave the tournament with their reputation enhanced. For African football as a whole, strong performances from sides like Tunisia matter enormously in terms of the continent's standing within the global game.

Related guides

• Tunisia at the World Cup, full history.
• Group F fixtures and standings.
• World Cup 2026 hub.