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World Cup feature: Tunisia’s history at the tournament – 2026 FIFA World Cup

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Hannibal Mejbri celebrates his first goal for Tunisia with teammates during the 2026 World Cup Qualifier football match between Tunisia and Namibia at Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Rades, Tunisia on 13 October 2025 ©Mehrez Toujani/BackpagePix

by
Austin Ditlhobolo

Sunday May 31, 2026. 15:00

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Tunisia are poised to make their seventh appearance at the World Cup and will contest Group F alongside the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden.

The Eagles of Carthage made their debut at the 1978 tournament in Argentina, where they made history by becoming the first African and Arab nation to win a World Cup match, beating Mexico 3-1.

They also held eventual finalists West Germany to a respectable goalless draw, earning widespread praise for their disciplined and organised performance before exiting in the group stage.

Since then, Tunisia have featured regularly in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018 and 2022 but have never progressed beyond the group stage in six previous attempts.

Their most notable results include a fighting 2-1 win over Panama in 2018 and a memorable 1-0 victory over France in 2022, which showcased their tactical discipline and ability to compete against top nations even as they narrowly missed out on advancement.

The two-time Africa Cup of Nations champions return with a solid mix of experienced campaigners and emerging talent, backed by their trademark defensive organisation and counter-attacking threat.

With renewed confidence and ambition, Tunisia will be determined to finally break their long-standing group-stage curse and deliver a historic knockout-stage run in 2026.

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Ludek Miklosko: Ex-West Ham goalkeeper dies aged 64

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Ludek Miklosko wearing a West Ham scarf and waving

Former West Ham, QPR and Czech Republic goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko has died at the age of 64.

Miklosko made almost 400 appearances for the Hammers from 1990 to 1998 and was much loved by supporters, who regularly sang his name long after he left the club.

He later returned as a goalkeeping coach.

Miklosko withdrew from cancer treatment in December 2024, three years after his diagnosis.

Days later he returned to West Ham’s London Stadium for a Premier League match against Liverpool to a hero’s reception.

A West Ham statement read: “It is with deep and profound sadness that West Ham United announces the passing of legendary former goalkeeper and coach, Luděk Miklosko.

“Rest in peace Ludek, our beloved, inspirational goalkeeper and gentle giant of a man.”

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More to follow.

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US Open 2026 results: Alexander Zverev beats Ben Shelton for second Grand Slam title

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Alexander Zverev celebrates with the US Open trophy

Going into the 2026 season, few people would have backed Zverev to win two Grand Slam tournaments, with the German having already lost three major finals in a career which looked in danger of not living up to expectation.

But injuries to his biggest rivals – Alcaraz missing the French Open and Wimbledon, with Sinner ruled out of the US Open – opened the door for Zverev.

A below-par Zverev scraped through the opening rounds at Flushing Meadows in a series of early-morning finishes, but he gradually improved over a fortnight where he did not play a top-20 opponent until Shelton.

Zverev had not lost to Shelton in their five previous meetings and immediately capitalised on a nervy start by his opponent.

Shelton double-faulted on break point in the first game of the match, handing over the type of initiative that opponents often struggle to wrestle back from Zverev.

Through the strength of his first serve, and his ability to unpick Shelton’s weaker backhand in the baseline exchanges, Zverev rolled through the opening set and clinched it when Shelton hit another double fault on set point.

Zverev continued to patiently draw mistakes from Shelton in the second set, but without being gifted a break when his only opportunity arrived in the fourth game.

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He instead showed why he has a strong tie-break record with another nerveless display and, unlike in the 2020 US Open final when he lost from a two-set lead, kept his composure in the pressure moments to secure a commanding victory.

Addressing his team which is led by his father Alexander senior and brother Mischa, Zverev said: “We went 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title and now won two in the span of three months.

“I think God has seen how hard we have worked, how hard we have suffered and how much pain we went through.

“I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before.”

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Erling Haaland goal: Was Haaland’s derby winner a VAR error?

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Erling Haaland scores for Man City

With Haaland’s goal settling the match, United were unsurprisingly disappointed by the decision.

“I think it was offside,” said Martinez. “And what I can’t understand is the rules. I want to be calm now, I want to control myself.

“It’s so hard because you lose a derby, you lose three points at home, and every season they’re [referees] coming to our club, they explain for one hour the rules, and they look so confident with that, and then after [there are] five or six people doing these kind of mistakes in the Premier League – it’s unacceptable.

“It’s the best league in the world, you have the best teams in the world, the best players in the world, and now we have to go home with this injustice.”

United boss Carrick also expressed his confusion.

“We put things in place in the game now, we have people in offices with all the screens for this decision,” he said.

“It’s more worrying about if that’s the interpretation of football now. If that’s the interpretation of not interfering in the game now, that’s really worrying for me. It’s a staggering explanation.

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“The decision isn’t going to change the season, but it’s had a major impact on the game.”

Wayne Rooney, part of the BBC’s MOTD2 team, said: “Surely it’s offside. Martinez is impacted by Fernandez’s movement, and he is offside.”

Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: “I think we’ll see some sort of apology from the referee’s association, there’s no doubt Fernandez is playing that ball and is trying to put off Martinez. I think it’s one they’ll recognising they got wrong.”

Micah Richards added: “I think it’s been a bad day for referees. They got the Foden decision wrong and the Fernandez decision wrong. I think they got it so wrong but I don’t think it takes anything away from City’s performance.”

Meanwhile, City boss Maresca said: “I think it was onside clearly so it’s good.”

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