Tunisia has participated six times in the FIFA World Cup, the biggest men's football event in the world, in 1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022 and 2026. Throughout all the participations, Tunisia was unable to advance beyond the group stage. Tunisia qualified for the World Cup for the first time in its history during the 1978 edition in Argentina, competing in Group 2 under the leadership of coach Abdelmajid Chetali. Tunisia became the first African and Arab team to win a World Cup match, after defeating Mexico 3−1 in Tunisia's first match in the competition. The team then lost to Poland 0−1 and drew with defending champion West Germany 0−0, exiting the tournament in the group stage. Ali Kaabi, Mokhtar Dhouieb and Néjib Ghommidh scored the team's goals.
Tunisia failed to qualify for the World Cup for the next four editions until returning 20 years later to the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, competing in Group G, led by polish coach Henryk Kasperczak. The team lost its first two matches against England 0−2 and Colombia 0−1, and tied with Romania in the last round 1−1. Skander Souayah scored Tunisia's only goal in the tournament. Tunisia qualified for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan, where Tunisia played its matches in Japan, competing in Group H, led by coach Ammar Souayah. The team lost its first match against Russia 0−2, then drew 1−1 with Belgium before being eliminated again after a 0−2 defeat to hosts Japan. Raouf Bouzaiene scored Tunisia's only goal. Tunisia qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany competing in Group H, led by french coach Roger Lemerre. The team tied in the first match against Saudi Arabia 2−2, but suffered two defeats against the strong Spain 1−3 despite taking the lead in the first minutes of the match, and then against Ukraine 0−1. Ziad Jaziri, Radhi Jaïdi and Jawhar Mnari scored Tunisia's three goals in the tournament.
Tunisia failed to qualify for the next two editions in South Africa and Brazil, and the team returned to competition after a 12-year absence at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where it competed in Group G, led by coach Nabil Maâloul. The team's performance did not rise as it came in a difficult group that included England, Belgium and Panama, which qualified for the first time. The team suffered two consecutive defeats against European opponents: England 1−2 and a heavy defeat to strong Belgium 2−5. However, the team won its last match against Panama 2−1. Wahbi Khazri scored two goals, while Ferjani Sassi, Dylan Bronn and Fakhreddine Ben Youssef each scored one goal. Tunisia qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the first edition to be held in the Arab world. The team competed in Group D under the leadership of coach Jalel Kadri. The team drew 0−0 with Denmark and then suffered a 0−1 defeat to Australia, but still won 1−0 against defending champions France. But the team was unable to advance to the round of 16 due to Denmark's victory over Australia, and Tunisia left the group stage again. Khazri scored Tunisia's only goal.
In 2025, Tunisia became the first team in history to qualify for the World Cup without conceding a goal, after their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Wahbi Khazri is the Tunisian player who has scored the most goals in the competition with three: two in 2018 and one in the 2022 edition. Ellyes Skhiri is the Tunisian player with the most matches played (nine appearances across 2018, 2022 and 2026).
Overall record FIFA World Cup recordFIFA World Cup qualification recordYearRoundPosition*Squad 1930Not affiliatedNot affiliated 1934 1938 1950 1954 1958Not a FIFA memberNot a FIFA member 1962Did not qualify311144 1966WithdrewWithdrew 1970Did not qualify514043 1974411255 1978Group stage9th311132Squad10442159 1982Did not qualify210122 19868404119 1990104151011 19946330142 1998Group stage26th301214Squad8710152 200229th301215Squad10820285 200624th301236Squad10631259 2010Did not qualify12732187 201484311410 2018Group stage24th310258Squad8620156 202221st311111Squad8521122 202647th3003212Squad10910220 2030To be determinedTo be determined 2034Total: 9th2135131638—12271312021486—
List of matches
YearRoundDateOpponentResultTunisia scorers1 19781Group 22 June 19783–1Kaabi , Ghommidh , Dhouieb 26 June 19780–1—310 June 19780–0—2 19984Group G15 June 19980–2—522 June 19980–1—626 June 19981–1Souayah 3 20027Group H5 June 20020–2—810 June 20021–1Bouzaiene 914 June 20020–2—4 200610Group H14 June 20062–2Jaziri , Jaïdi 1119 June 20061–3Mnari 1223 June 20060–1—5 201813Group G18 June 20181–2Sassi 1423 June 20182–5Bronn , Khazri 1528 June 20182–1F. Ben Youssef , Khazri 6 202216 Group D22 November 20220–0—1726 November 20220–1—1830 November 20221–0Khazri 7 202619Group F14 June 20261–5Rekik —2020 June 20260–4——2125 June 20261–3Mastouri —
Tournaments 1978 FIFA World Cup
In the first game, Mexico managed to advance through a penalty in the first half to end the break 1–0 for the Mexico. And before the start of the second half, Tunisian coach Chetali threw the Tunisian flag in front of the players and left the changing room. Tunisia managed to return to the game after Ali Kaabi scored the equalizer for Tunisia to enter history as the first Tunisian player to score a World Cup goal in the 55th minute before adding two goals to finish the game 3–1.
In the second match, they made a good performance against Poland before the team lost 1–0, but in the last game it was just around the corner to win the defending champion West Germany before the game ended 0–0. This performance has been admired by most analysts who did not expect it, and that has contributed to increasing the number of African teams qualified for the World Cup to become two. The team was received at Tunis–Carthage International Airport by Tunisians, provided by Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba, telling the players that they had accomplished the task of 50 ambassadors, because they contributed to the known of Tunisia internationally.
Group stage
1998 FIFA World Cup
Group stage
2002 FIFA World Cup
Group stage
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 World Cup begins with a first match on 14 June against Saudi Arabia, in which Roger Lemerre uses the 4–4–2 formation. The injury to Francileudo Santos, Tunisia's strongest striker ahead of the tournament, is of particular interest, but he is still called up to the squad. The other training interest is David Jemmali. In the opening match, with right defender Hatem Trabelsi playing in that position for years, Jemmali has a prime spot. Topping the list are Yassine Chikhaoui and Ziad Jaziri, who is playing for the second time in the World Cup. Before the match, Lemerre's Tunisia seemed to be performing better than Saudi Arabia, but it turns out that is not the case. While Tunisia launched with Ziad Jaziri's goal, Saudi Arabia managed to come back into the match and score two goals. In the last moments of the match, Tunisia managed to end the match with a draw 2–2 and a goal from Radhi Jaïdi; Lemerre said he was disappointed with the result.
In the second match, Tunisia faces Spain, the team led by Raúl, Iker Casillas, Carles Puyol and Sergio Ramos that beat Ukraine in the first round. Lemerre relies on the typical 4–5–1 defense system, with Jaziri up front. Exceptionally, Jemmali, who played as a left defender in the opening match, is replaced by his teammate Anis Ayari. Tunisia started the match strongly and scored the first goal thanks to Jawhar Mnari. However, Spain made offensive changes in the second half and Raúl and his teammates counter-attacked goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel, through whom they got the equalizer five minutes later, with Fernando Torres scoring the second goal for Spain, who won the match with a penalty in the 90th minute with a score of 3–1.
Lemerre is not satisfied with the result although he considers his tactics good. However, due to an error, Spain gets the equalizer. Lemerre also emphasizes that Tunisia must win the final match against Ukraine if they want to continue the competition. Against this, Lemerre returns to the 4–4–2 formation and, this time, its best offensive pair is made up of Jaziri and Hamed Namouchi. The match headed for a goalless draw, but the nature of the match changed when Jaziri received a second booking in the match and was sent off with a red card. To his great surprise, Lemerre did not bring up anyone as an attacker but played for more than half an hour without an attacker. Additionally, the referee announces a presumed penalty, scored by Andriy Shevchenko. Lemerre only responded after 79 minutes, when he brought on Santos and Chaouki Ben Saada. Santos has two chances in the match but fails to score. The match ultimately ended 1–0, with Tunisia once again eliminated from the group stage. After the match, Lemerre declared that he shared the disappointment with the Tunisian supporters. All that remained was for them to focus on the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, but the Tunisian media and supporters criticized Lemerre's performance during the tournament as being too cautious and particularly defensive. At this time, Hatem Trabelsi announced his retirement from international football after eight years.
Group stage
2018 FIFA World Cup
In the fierst match, England scored in the 11th minute when Mouez Hassen stopped a John Stones' header from a corner from the left, but could not save a Harry Kane follow-up from close range. Hassen was substituted four minutes later for Farouk Ben Mustapha due to an injury earlier in the game, after he had a collision with Jesse Lingard. Lingard then mishit a volley from Ashley Young's cross to the far post. After 10 minutes, Ferjani Sassi equalised from the penalty spot after Kyle Walker was penalised for an elbow on Fakhreddine Ben Youssef. Kane had an appeal for a penalty waved away within five minutes of the restart as he was seemingly impeded by a pair of Tunisia players at a corner. In the additional time, Harry Maguire flicked a Kieran Trippier corner from the right into the path of Kane, who headed it inside the goal after being left free at the back post. England scored more than once for the first time in 10 World Cup matches, since a 2–2 draw against Sweden in 2006. Kane became the first England player to score a brace in a World Cup match since Gary Lineker against Cameroon in 1990.
Against Belgium, Just 6 minutes into the game, Syam Ben Youssef's late challenge on Eden Hazard was deemed, with the use of VAR, to have been just inside the area and he stepped up to score the penalty into the bottom-left corner. Ten minutes later, Dries Mertens won possession just inside the Tunisia half before driving forward and passing the ball to Romelu Lukaku. Lukaku then shot a low strike across Farouk Ben Mustapha into the bottom-right corner. Wahbi Khazri's free-kick from the left was met by Dylan Bronn, who flashed a header past Thibaut Courtois. Thomas Meunier found Lukaku inside the area, which he clipped over the onrushing Mustapha. Toby Alderweireld's long pass from defence was taken on the chest by Hazard, who then rounded Mustapha to stroke into an empty net. Michy Batshuayi met Youri Tielemans' cross at the back post with a controlled half-volley to score Belgium's 5th. Khazri scored deep into stoppage time after a swivel in the box. Lukaku became the first player since Diego Maradona to score back-to-back braces in consecutive world cup games. Hazard's penalty was Belgium's second quickest goal in a World Cup match (5:59), behind only Léopold Anoul's goal against England in 1954, in the fifth minute. For Tunisia, it has registered as their worst defeat ever in their World Cup history.