July 5, 2026 — Hervé Renard‘s spell as Tunisia head coach is over almost as quickly as it began. The 57-year-old Frenchman confirmed his resignation on Saturday, July 4, in a farewell message posted to Instagram, ending a tenure that lasted just eighteen days and two matches.
A firefighter hired mid-tournament
Renard’s appointment was one of the most unusual of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) turned to him on June 16 — the same period the tournament was already underway — after sacking Sabri Lamouchi in the wake of a humiliating 5-1 opening-day defeat to Sweden.
The federation hoped the two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner, who lifted the trophy with Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015, could steady a team that had sailed through qualifying unbeaten. It was also a swift return to the international stage for Renard, who had been preparing Saudi Arabia for this very World Cup before being dismissed less than two months prior to kickoff.
The slide continued
The rescue mission never got off the ground. Under Renard, the Carthage Eagles fell 4-0 to Japan — a result that left him admitting he felt ashamed — before closing their campaign with a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands, a match that began with one of the fastest own goals in tournament history, credited to midfielder Ellyes Skhiri.
Tunisia finished bottom of Group F with zero points, two goals scored and twelve conceded — the worst defensive record of the expanded 48-team tournament and one of the poorest in World Cup history, eclipsing the eleven goals Costa Rica shipped in 2022.
A gracious goodbye
Despite the results, Renard’s parting message struck a warm tone. He thanked the FTF for the chance to take part in the World Cup, called representing Tunisia “an honour,” and said he was convinced the team would keep growing and continue to inspire the nation. He closed by confirming that his adventure with Tunisia had come to an end.
Notably, the decision appears to have been Renard’s own. Reports indicate the federation had explored offering him a longer-term contract, but the Frenchman — who told AFP after the elimination that he had come specifically “for this World Cup” — opted against staying on.
What’s next?
For Renard, speculation about his next move has already begun, with some outlets floating a possible return to Algerian football — though those links remain unconfirmed rumours for now.
For Tunisia, the questions are harder. The federation must now appoint its third head coach in under a month and rebuild confidence in a squad that arrived at the World Cup unbeaten in qualifying and left it with three defeats and a shattered defensive record. The next cycle, beginning with the road to AFCON, will be the first test of whatever comes after the Renard experiment.
