German-born attacker Louey Ben Farhat has turned down a call-up to the Tunisia national football team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, opting instead to pursue an international future with Germany. The news casts a spotlight on the Carthage Eagles' challenges with dual-nationality players following a disappointing World Cup campaign where they finished bottom of their group with zero points.
The 20-year-old prospect, who was born in Waiblingen, Germany, declined a place in Tunisia's World Cup squad. Ben Farhat cited the need to manage his workload after a lengthy spell out due to injury as a primary reason for his decision. The prospect of switching allegiance to Germany also played a role, with the attacker now expected to receive a call-up to the German U21 national team in September.
Ben Farhat completed a move from Karlsruher SC to Bundesliga side Freiburg for a fee of €7.5 million this summer, before being immediately loaned back to the 2. Bundesliga club for the season. This development highlights the ongoing recruitment battle faced by the Tunisian Football Federation, especially after a difficult tournament that ended without a win.
The Tunisia national football team exited the 2026 World Cup with a perfect losing record. They lost all three of their group stage matches, scoring only 2 goals while conceding 12 for a -10 goal difference. Their final match was a 1-3 defeat to the Netherlands on June 25, 2026, part of a longer losing streak that now stretches to five consecutive matches.
This performance left Tunisia in 4th place in their World Cup group, a full 7 points behind group leaders the Netherlands. Fans can review the full group standings and comparative statistics on our standings page. The early exit shows the need for a technical rebuild and a stronger pull for eligible talent playing abroad.
The new technical staff, which has yet to be officially appointed, must build a squad capable of competing in upcoming qualifying campaigns. A comprehensive review of the national team's strategy is needed, particularly in the face of intense competition for dual-nationality players of Tunisian descent across Europe.
With the World Cup journey over, the focus now shifts to reconstruction. The next manager will need to rely on a mix of domestic experience and promising youth, whether from the local league or from committed diaspora players. The current squad's form shows five consecutive losses with no victory in their last five official outings.
