Tunisia head coach Sabri Lamouchi has made two of his biggest selection calls yet by leaving out experienced duo Ferjani Sassi and Yassine Meriah from his 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.
Sassi, 34, who has earned 101 international caps, and defender Meriah, with 95 appearances for the national team, are among the most notable omissions as Lamouchi opted for a refreshed squad ahead of the tournament.
The decision underlines a clear shift in direction under Lamouchi, who took charge of Tunisia in January and has already shown a willingness to make bold changes since his appointment.
Both players had also been absent from Lamouchi’s earlier squad selections for friendlies against Haiti and Canada, signalling that they were not part of his long-term plans.
Their omission comes as Tunisia prepare for a challenging World Cup campaign in Group F, where they will face Sweden, Japan and the Netherlands.
Lamouchi has instead turned to a younger core alongside some established internationals as he looks to balance experience with long-term development.
Among those included is Rani Khedira, who switched international allegiance in March and is the brother of Germany’s 2014 World Cup winner Sami Khedira. Premier League-based midfielders Hannibal Mejbri (Burnley) and Anis Ben Slimane (Norwich City) also feature in the 26-man squad.
There is also a place for 21-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward Khalil Ayari, who is yet to make a senior appearance for the French champions but is seen as part of Tunisia’s emerging attacking options.
Tunisia will open their World Cup campaign against Sweden on 15 June, before meeting Japan and the Netherlands in their remaining Group F fixtures.
Tunisia World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Sabri Ben Hessen (Etoile Sahel), Abdelmouhib Chamakh (Club Africain), Aymen Dahman (CS Sfaxien)
Defenders: Ali Abdi (Nice), Adem Arous (Kasimpasa), Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida (Esperance), Dylan Bronn (Servette Geneva), Raed Chikhaoui (US Monastir), Moutaz Neffati (Norrkoping), Omar Rekik (NK Maribor), Montassar Talbi (Lorient), Yan Valery (Young Boys Berne)
Midfielders: Mortadha Ben Ouanes (Kasimpasa), Anis Ben Slimane (Norwich City), Ismael Gharbi (FC Augsburg), Rani Khedira (Union Berlin), Mohamed Hadj Mahmoud (Lugano), Hannibal Mejbri (Burnley), Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Forwards: Elias Achouri (FC Copenhagen), Khalil Ayari (Paris Saint-Germain), Firas Chaouat (Club Africain), Rayan Elloumi (Vancouver Whitecaps), Hazem Mastouri (Dynamo Makhachkala), Elias Saad (Hannover 96), Sebastian Tounekti (Celtic)
