First Touch ’26 - Tunisia

Tunisia are about to play their seventh World Cup—more than almost any African nation—but the Eagles of Carthage still feel oddly overlooked. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass explores how football grew under French occupation, how early Tunisian-only clubs became hubs of resistance, and how a strong domestic league laid the foundation for one of Africa’s most consistent performers. We revisit historic milestones: the first ever World Cup win by an African team in 1978, the long group-stage curse, and the cathartic 2022 victory over France that still wasn’t enough to escape their group. From there we break down a flawless 2026 qualifying campaign in which Tunisia became the first team ever to reach the World Cup without conceding a goal, powered by a blend of homegrown talent and dual nationals inspired by Morocco’s model. Under Sami Trabelsi’s organized 4-3-3/4-2-3-1, goals and responsibilities are shared, with fiery midfielder Hannibal Mejbri embodying the next generation’s energy. This is Tunisia’s bid to turn quiet consistency into a genuine knockout-round breakthrough.