FIFA confirms centre-circle anthem ceremony for all players at 2026 World Cup

FIFA has confirmed a new pre-match ceremony for the 2026 World Cup that will see every player — starting XI and substitutes alike — line up around the centre circle during national anthems, a format that will apply to all 48 teams in the tournament, which kicks off on 11 June with Mexico facing South Africa.

The change, announced by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, is designed to give supporters inside the stadiums a full 360-degree view of both squads before a game begins. Traditional elements of the pre-match routine — handshakes, team photographs and the coin toss — will remain in place after the anthems.

“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,” Infantino said in a statement. “The FIFA World Cup is about every player and every fan, and this new pre-match ceremony reflects that.”

The announcement follows FIFA’s decision to trial NBA-style individual player walk-outs at last summer’s Club World Cup. That format will not be replicated at the 2026 edition; instead, players will be escorted onto the pitch by young mascots and walk through a dedicated arch near the tunnel, with large national flag banners displayed across the pitch during the procession.

The ceremony update arrives against a backdrop of broader criticism aimed at FIFA over its ticketing operation for the tournament. The governing body recently acknowledged that approximately 60 fans had been allocated tickets at no charge — listed at $0 — due to a payment processing error during checkout. Those fans had their orders refunded and were asked to repurchase at the correct price.

“FIFA regrets the error and any inconvenience caused,” the organisation said in a statement confirming the incident.

With the tournament now less than a week away, the combination of last-minute procedural changes and ticketing mishaps has kept FIFA in the headlines for reasons beyond the football itself.