Tunisia have announced their final 26-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, with head coach Sabri Lamouchi selecting a blend of experienced internationals and emerging talents. Among the notable inclusions are Anis Ben Slimane, the midfielder currently playing for Norwich City F.C., and young forward Ryan Eloumi of Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
The squad list was officially released by the Tunisian Football Federation on Friday afternoon ahead of next month’s World Cup, which will be staged across Mexico, Canada and the United States. Tunisia have been drawn in Group F, alongside Japan, the Netherlands and Sweden.
Tunisia will begin their World Cup campaign on 15 June against Sweden at the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico. Their second group-stage fixture is scheduled for 21 June at the same venue, where they will face Japan.
A major talking point in this squad is the selection of Ryan Eloumi. The 25-year-old forward previously made an international appearance for Canada in a friendly match against Guatemala in January. However, as the fixture was categorised as a ‘B’ international rather than an official senior competitive match, it did not permanently tie him to the Canadian national team.
Eloumi subsequently opted to represent Tunisia at senior international level. He made his debut for Tunisia during the March international window and impressed sufficiently to secure a place in Lamouchi’s final World Cup squad. At club level, the Vancouver Whitecaps player has registered two goals and two assists in 24 appearances.
Lamouchi’s selection strategy has largely focused on combining Europe-based players with experienced international performers. Tunisia’s midfield will be anchored by Ben Slimane, Hannibal Mejbri and Ellyes Skhiri, while defensive responsibilities are expected to fall on players such as Dylan Bronn and Omar Rekik.
Tunisia World Cup Fixtures
| Match | Opponent | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Stage Match 1 | Sweden | 15 June | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| Group Stage Match 2 | Japan | 21 June | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
Tunisia’s 26-Man World Cup Squad
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Aymen Dahmen, Sabri Ben Hassine, Mouhib Al-Shamikh |
| Defenders | Montassar Talbi, Dylan Bronn, Omar Rekik, Yan Valery, Ali Abdi, Moataz Nefati, Raed Chekhaoui, Adam Arous |
| Midfielders | Ellyes Skhiri, Hannibal Mejbri, Amine Ben Hamida, Anis Ben Slimane, Mohamed Haj Mahmoud, Rani Khedira, Mortadha Ben Ouanes |
| Forwards | Elias Achouri, Ismail Gharbi, Elias Saad, Sebastian Tounekti, Firas Chaouat, Khalil Ayari, Hazem Mastouri, Ryan Eloumi |
Tunisia’s final squad reflects a balanced approach ahead of the World Cup, with Lamouchi relying on a combination of established internationals and younger players currently competing in European and North American leagues. Eloumi’s inclusion adds further depth to the attacking options available for the tournament.