Renard Confirms Exit After 2026 World Cup

Herve Renard has never been a man for half-measures, and he is treating his Tunisia job exactly the same way: as a short, sharp World Cup mission with a clear end date.

The French coach has confirmed he will step down as Tunisia head coach after the 2026 World Cup, with his contract running only through the tournament and no extension on the table beyond June.

“I’ve come for a World Cup mission,” Renard told ESPN on Monday. “I have not signed beyond that.”

It is a blunt statement and a deliberate one. Renard was parachuted in to replace Sabri Lamouchi after Tunisia were humiliated 5-0 by Belgium, a result that exposed deep cracks and forced the federation into drastic change. He arrived as the proven tournament specialist, the man trusted to steady a shaken dressing room and restore some edge to the Carthage Eagles on the biggest stage.

The turnaround has not come quickly enough. On Saturday, Tunisia fell to Japan, a defeat that confirmed their elimination after just two matches. The early exit underlines the scale of the task Renard accepted and the limited window he has to reshape a side still reeling from that heavy loss to Belgium.

Renard, though, has drawn a firm line around his tenure. There are no negotiations in the background, no quiet talk of rolling the deal on. As it stands, Tunisia know exactly how long they have with him — one cycle, one tournament, one shot to make his “World Cup mission” count.