Scouting report
Tunisia arrive at the 2026 World Cup as one of CAF's most consistent qualifiers, the Eagles of Carthage seeking to finally break their group-stage curse after famously beating France in Qatar 2022 but still going home early.
A blend of Europe-based talent and domestic stalwarts gives Tunisia a disciplined, well-drilled identity. With Ellyes Skhiri anchoring midfield and an evergreen Youssef Msakni leading from the front, this is a side that frustrates bigger names but often lacks the cutting edge to finish them off.
Style of play
Compact, defensively organised and counter-attacking, relying on midfield steel and quick transitions through the wide channels.
X-factor
Hannibal Mejbri's unpredictable dribbling and audacity can unlock a packed defence in a single moment.
Outlook
Realistically Tunisia will battle for a knockout berth via the expanded 48-team format; reaching the round of 32 would represent genuine progress on their history.
Key players
Model outlook
Proj. finish
39.0
Exp. points
0.98
Seed Elo
1650
Title-odds trajectory
Champion % across 9 daily snapshots
Full squad
- 124caps
Aymen Dahmen
CS Sfaxien · Reliable shot-stopper and number one
- 1618caps
Mouez Hassen
Club Africain · Experienced backup with reflexes
- 2310caps
Bechir Ben Said
US Monastir · Commanding presence between posts
- 242caps
Mohamed Drager
Servette · Overlapping right-back energy
- 358caps
Yassine Meriah
Esperance Tunis · Aerially dominant central defender
- 440caps
Montassar Talbi
Lorient · Composed ball-playing centre-back
- 538caps
Dylan Bronn
Salernitana · Versatile and physical defender
- 635caps
Wajdi Kechrida
Atromitos · Steady full-back option
- 1222caps
Ali Abdi
Caen · Energetic attacking left-back
- 1515caps
Nader Ghandri
Antalyaspor · Robust defensive cover
- 2212caps
Yan Valery
Angers · Modern attacking full-back
- 728caps
Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane
Ferencvaros · Dynamic attacking midfielder
- 855caps
Ellyes Skhiri
Eintracht Frankfurt · Box-to-box metronome and leader
- 1030caps
Hannibal Mejbri
Burnley · Creative spark and flair
- 1362caps
Ferjani Sassi
Al-Duhail · Experienced playmaking presence
- 1445caps
Aissa Laidouni
Union Berlin · Combative midfield engine
- 1726caps
Anis Ben Slimane
Sheffield United · Tireless pressing midfielder
- 1824caps
Saif-Eddine Khaoui
Clermont · Wide creator and dribbler
- 952caps
Naim Sliti
Al-Ettifaq · Tricky wing threat
- 1190caps
Youssef Msakni
Al-Arabi · Captain and talisman
- 1920caps
Issam Jebali
OB Odense · Clinical veteran finisher
- 2016caps
Elias Achouri
Copenhagen · Pacey direct winger
- 2122caps
Seifeddine Jaziri
Zamalek · Mobile penalty-box poacher
World Cup history
2022
Did not qualify / Group stage