FIFA confirms all 26 players will be on the pitch for World Cup national anthems
| Photo by Sona Maleterova/Getty Images |
Less than a week before the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada begins, FIFA has announced a change for the tournament.
Instead of only the starting XI being on the pitch for the national anthems before each match, all 26 players in each squad will be present on the field.
“As the FIFA World Cup grows, we continue to innovate the way the game is experienced,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino in a statement.
"Having all players and referees face each other in the centre circle during the national anthems will create a moment of unity, pride and emotion that truly belongs to the teams and to everyone.
"The FIFA World Cup is about every player and every fan, and this new pre-match ceremony reflects that."
Germany will play their first match of the tournament against Curaçao on June 14.
