Analysis of Tunisia's squad for the 2026 World Cup

Tunisia is Brazil's next opponent in the 2026 World Cup. The team, which has already undergone changes in command, has sought to adapt to face the tournament's great challenges. Under the leadership of coach Hervé Renard, Tunisia adopted a tactical scheme that seeks to exploit the opponents' weaknesses.

During the preparation for the World Cup, the Tunisian team played in a compact 4-4-2 formation, but in the opening of the tournament, they surprised by switching to a 5-3-2, a system that had not been used before. With the change of command, Renard implemented a new concept, using a 5-4-1 defense, which aims to attract opponents to the flanks and then counterattack.

Although the Tunisian team does not have world-renowned stars, some players attract attention. Omar Rekik, born in the Netherlands, is one of the best known, but the real standout is Hannibal Mejbri, who comes from the Manchester United academy and currently plays for Burnley. In addition to them, Rani Khedira and Ellyes Skhiri, both with experience on European teams, are key players in midfield.


However, Tunisia's attack left something to be desired in the first games, with just two shots against Japan, none of them from open play. The team's only goal so far was the result of a throw-in against Sweden. The team has an attack pattern that relies heavily on set pieces, being one of the teams that suffered most from quick counterattacks in the tournament.

Tactically, Tunisia has shown vulnerabilities, especially in the defensive transition, where the distances between players increase. This could be an opportunity for Brazil, which has a strong and fast attack. Historically, the teams have faced each other three times, with Brazil coming out on top in a friendly in 1978, winning 4-0. The other two friendly matches ended in a draw.

This analysis is a summary of the most in-depth research available on VI PRO, which further explores Tunisia's strategies and performance at the tournament.