ZURICH — FIFA has officially announced a historic modification to its pre-match operational protocols for the highly anticipated 2026 World Cup. In a major departure from football tradition, all 26 players included in a matchday squad will now actively participate on the pitch during the national anthem ceremonies, expanding the iconic moment far beyond the starting eleven.
The revised setup is slated for its global debut at the upcoming tournament hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Under the historical framework utilized in previous tournaments, only the starting line-ups stood on the field for the national anthems, while the remaining substitutes, coaching staff, and support personnel were restricted to the technical area near the team dugouts. The newly established arrangement mandates that every single player selected for the match will gather on the grass prior to kick-off, assembling collectively around the center-circle banner.
In addition to squad expansion, the physical positioning of the athletes is also undergoing a profound transformation. Rather than standing in parallel lines facing toward the stadium stands, the opposing squads and match officials will arrange themselves around the center circle to face one another directly. FIFA organizers believe this circular facing formation will generate a far more unified, intense, and emotionally driven pre-match spectacle.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino framed the tactical change as an essential step toward modernizing and deepening the tournament experience for both competitors and global viewers. Infantino noted that as the World Cup scales up, FIFA continues to innovate how the game is experienced, stating that having all players and referees face each other in the center circle will forge a powerful moment of unity, pride, and emotion. He emphasized that the tournament belongs to every player and fan, and the revamped ceremony directly reflects that inclusive ethos.
