After years of solid performances, Tunisia has finally made it back to the FIFA World Cup for the 2026 edition. That decisive moment came in the last few seconds of their opening qualifying match against Equatorial Guinea, in Malabo. Second-half stoppage-time sub midfielder Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane scored in the 94th minute for a bone-rattling, breathtaking, thrilling 1-0 upset win. With this victory, Tunisia secured an unassailable lead in Group H, finishing with 22 points from eight matches.
Tunisia is headed to the third World Cup in North America! That accomplishment further cements their place as the second most successful African nation to qualify directly for the tournament. Together this creates a powerful and historic moment as the team gears up for its seventh-straight appearance at the World Cup. Tunisia has every incentive to ensure strong performance. Their performance in previous tournaments has seen them win just three of 18 matches, never making it past round one.
In the round of 16 against Equatorial Guinea, the Carthage Eagles flexed their depth by starting players plying their trade in nine separate nations. National striker Ben Romdhane joined Egyptian giants Al Ahly this year from Ferencvaros in Hungary. He was the hero of the night with an outstanding performance.
“When Firas Chaouat received the ball in the final moments, I knew he was going to get the better of the Equatorial Guinean player,” said Ben Romdhane.
“So I moved forward and put myself in a good position to score,” he added.
The match was faced with challenges, the oppressive humidity taking its toll on player’s performance. Midfielder Ferjani Sassi put them through with the lone goal in their final match against Equatorial Guinea. He gave big props to the adversity they had to overcome in this must-win game.
“It was the toughest match of the qualifiers, and we expected it given the conditions, the pitch and the humidity,” remarked Sassi.
Tunisia’s trip to the World Cup is a story about their amazing never-back-down attitude. It’s a showcase of their obvious ascent as a footballing power. Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri is emerging as an attacking force to help Tunisia’s cause. Thanks to his contributions, the team’s looking to hit the floor running come tournament time and prove they’ve got what it takes!
“We knew how to adapt to the circumstances. They had many chances, but we were ready. We believed in ourselves until the very end.”
Tunisia’s journey to the World Cup not only highlights their competitive spirit but also showcases their growth as a footballing nation. With players like Hannibal Mejbri from Premier League side Burnley contributing to the team’s success, Tunisia is poised to make a stronger impression in the upcoming tournament.
