Tunisia manager Sabri Lamouchi has made a bold statement by excluding two veteran players from his World Cup roster. Ferjani Sassi, who earned 101 caps for his country, and defender Yassine Meriah with 95 appearances, both missed the cut for the 26-man squad heading to the 2026 tournament. The decision signals Lamouchi's intent to build a younger squad for the World Cup campaign.

Lamouchi, who took charge in January, had already left both players out of his previous two friendlies against Haiti and Canada. This consistent omission suggests the manager is moving in a new direction. Among the notable inclusions is Rani Khedira, brother of 2014 World Cup winner Sami Khedira, who recently switched allegiance from Germany to Tunisia in March.

The squad features several emerging talents alongside established names. Burnley's Hannibal Mejbri and Norwich City's Anis Ben Slimane provide midfield options, while 21-year-old PSG prospect Khalil Ayari earned selection despite limited first-team experience. Tunisia opens their Group F campaign against Sweden on June 15, followed by matches against Japan and the Netherlands.

The veteran exclusions represent a generational shift as Tunisia aims to compete in what will be their first World Cup appearance since 2018. Lamouchi's squad blends youth with experience, featuring players across European leagues and domestic Tunisian clubs.