FIFA has announced a new pre-match ceremony format for the 2026 World Cup that will involve every player listed in a matchday squad, not just the starting eleven as was previously done.
The football governing body said the change replaces the traditional routine where only starting players are presented on the pitch before kick-off.
With the updated format, all squad members from both teams will now enter the field through a designated arch, accompanied by child mascots, before assembling around the centre circle for the national anthems.
FIFA also revealed that large national flags will be displayed on both sides of the pitch during the ceremony to add to the spectacle.
The organisation explained that the new approach is intended to give all selected players a shared experience of representing their countries on the World Cup stage.
“The FIFA World Cup is about every player and every fan, and this new pre-match ceremony reflects that,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement on Thursday.
He added that having players and match officials face each other during the anthems would create “a moment of unity, pride and emotion.”
The 2026 tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico between June 11 and July 19.
It will also be the first World Cup to feature an expanded 48-team format, up from 32 teams in previous editions.
