Tunisia
World Cup 2026 Group F — fixtures, standings, and knockout path
Khadra's counterattacks and the Ligue 1 spine
Wahbi Khazri's retirement leaves Anis Ben Slimane (Sheffield United) and Aïssa Laïdouni (Union Berlin) as Tunisia's creative hubs. The Carthage Eagles still rely on a backline forged in France's Ligue 1 – Montassar Talbi (Lorient) and Dylan Bronn (Salernitana) anchor a defense that conceded just four goals in CAF qualifying. Their 4-3-3 thrives on quick transitions, with Elias Achouri (Copenhagen) providing width. The 2026 squad blends veterans from Qatar 2022 with emerging talents like 19-year-old PSG academy product Ilyes Housni.
Group E's North African derby and tactical echoes
Drawn against Morocco in Group E, Tunisia faces their Maghreb rivals in a World Cup for the first time since 1994's 1-1 draw. The other opponents (one UEFA, one CONCACAF via playoffs) will test their compact 4-3-3. Kadri's side mirrors Morocco's 2022 approach – low defensive blocks, rapid wing play, and set-piece threats. Their 0-0 draw with Denmark in Qatar showed they can stifle European opponents, but scoring remains an issue: they've netted just 13 World Cup goals across 18 matches.
From Radhi Jaïdi's header to 2026's reality check
Tunisia's lone World Cup win remains their 3-1 victory over Mexico in 1978, featuring Radhi Jaïdi's iconic header. Recent tournaments have brought frustration – they became the first African team to win a World Cup match (Panama 2018) yet still exited early. The expanded format offers hope: their 1-0 upset of France in Qatar proved they can scalp giants. But with only two knockout slots guaranteed per group, their fate may hinge on beating CONCACAF's third-place finisher in Dallas or Vancouver.
Knockout route: top two qualify automatically; a third-place finish may still advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams. View Group F hub →
Group standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Japan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 |  Netherlands | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 |  Sweden | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Tunisia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fixtures & results
| Match | Date | Group | Score | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden vs TunisiaEstadio Monterrey | Mon, Jun 15, 2026 · 03:00 ET | f | – | Scheduled |
| Japan vs TunisiaEstadio Atlanta | Sun, Jun 21, 2026 · 17:00 ET | f | – | Scheduled |
| Tunisia vs NetherlandsEstadio Kansas City | Fri, Jun 26, 2026 · 00:00 ET | f | – | Scheduled |
Frequently asked questions
Has Tunisia ever advanced past the World Cup group stage?+
No. Tunisia has exited in the group stage in all five previous appearances (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022).
Which clubs supply most of Tunisia's 2026 squad?+
France's Ligue 1 (5 players) and Germany's Bundesliga (3) lead, with key players at Union Berlin, Freiburg, and Lorient.
How did Tunisia qualify for World Cup 2026?+
They topped CAF Group H with 13 points, conceding just twice in six games against Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, and Liberia.
What's Tunisia's best World Cup result?+
Their 3-1 win over Mexico in 1978 remains their only victory. They've drawn five times, including against Belgium (2002) and Denmark (2022).
Who is Tunisia's all-time World Cup top scorer?+
Wahbi Khazri (2 goals) leads their current squad, tied with Radhi Jaïdi and Ziad Jaziri historically.