Captain Sassi and key defender Yassine Meriah have been left out of the expanded squad for Tunisia's World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, according to Reuters. Both players, with 101 and 95 caps respectively, were deemed unnecessary by new coach Sabri Lamouchi, who succeeded Sami Trabelsi in January.

Meanwhile, the squad has been refreshed with the inclusion of 21-year-old Khalil Ayari and teen Ryan Eloumi, both surprising selections. Ayari, a player for Paris Saint-Germain, has yet to feature in first-team matches, while Eloumi has played two matches for Vancouver Whitecaps in Canada. The squad also includes 32-year-old midfielder Rani Hedira, whose brother Sami is a World Cup champion with Germany from 2014.

Tunisia is in Group F with Sweden, Japan, and the Netherlands. The expanded squad includes goalkeepers Sabri Ben Hassen, Abdelmouhib Shamak, and Ayman Dahman; defenders Ali Abdi, Adem Arslan, Mohamed Amin Ben Hamida, Dylan Bronn, Raied Shaikoui, Mutaz Haidar, Omar Rekik, Montassar Talbi, and Yan Valeri; midfielders Mortada Ben Youssef, Anis Ben Slama, Ismael Garbi, Rani Hedira, Mohamed Haj Mahmoud, Hanybal Mezribi, and Elies Skhiri; and forwards Elias Ashouri, Khalil Ayari, Firas Chaouat, Ryan Eloumi, Hazem Mastouri, Elias Saad, and Sébastien Thoenkite.