Tunisia didn't wait long. Less than 48 hours after a 5-1 hammering by Sweden, Sabri Lamouchi was gone — and Herve Renard is reportedly walking in the door to replace him.
According to Tunis Afrique Presse, an agreement is already in place. Lamouchi, appointed just this January on a contract running to 2028, becomes the first coaching casualty of the 2026 World Cup. He still had two games left — against Japan on Saturday and the Netherlands on June 25. Neither was going to be easy. Now they're someone else's problem.
Renard brings credibility Tunisia desperately need
Renard is a serious appointment. Two Africa Cup of Nations titles on his CV, and he took Saudi Arabia to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar — where they famously beat eventual champions Argentina in the group stage. Tunisia are in survival mode, but at least they've hired someone who knows how to manage a tournament under pressure.
Whether he can salvage anything from this group is another question entirely. Japan and the Netherlands are not ideal opponents for a squad that just conceded five. Tunisia's odds of advancing look grim regardless of who's in the dugout.
Iran's travel chaos and a Kiwi injury blow
Elsewhere, Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei didn't hold back after his side's 2-2 draw with New Zealand. "I think perhaps our team is the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup," he said — and the context makes it hard to entirely dismiss the complaint.
The Iranian squad was forced to relocate their base camp from Arizona to Mexico due to US visa uncertainty, playing on US soil barely 24 hours after a ceasefire was announced following the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Then, after the New Zealand match, they were denied an overnight stay in Los Angeles and sent back to Mexico immediately. Forward Mehdi Taremi, blunt as ever, said: "It's not good for us. I think it's not good for football."
Several Iran players suffered cramp during the match, which Ghalenoei directly linked to the extra travel. Key backroom staff couldn't get visas. Coaches were doubling up on bench responsibilities. FIFA president Gianni Infantino apparently visited the dressing room — whether that translated into any practical help remains unclear.
New Zealand, meanwhile, have their own headache. Midfielder Matt Garbett has been ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury sustained in training ahead of the Iran draw. Auckland FC forward Logan Rogerson has been called up as replacement. "It's a weird feeling to be honest, slightly conflicted as I am also buzzing to get out there," Rogerson admitted. The All Whites face Egypt next on June 22.
Garbett plays for Peterborough United in League One. Losing him isn't a squad-depth disaster on paper — but these are the margins that matter when you're trying to survive a World Cup group.
