FIFA grants coaches freedom to move after Tuchel's anthem view 'ruined' at World Cup

FIFA has changed its World Cup matchday protocol after England manager Thomas Tuchel complained that a wall of photographers blocked his view of his players during the national anthem, an experience he said “ruined a little bit” of what should have been a personal milestone.

The issue surfaced during England’s 4-2 opening-group-stage victory over Croatia at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Tuchel found himself standing directly behind approximately 50 photographers positioned just half a metre away, making it impossible for him to see a single player singing ‘God Save the King’. The problem was compounded by the stadium’s layout: the narrow gap between the pitch and the dugouts forced media personnel to assemble directly in front of the coaching staff.

Under the original tournament guidelines, photographers were required to gather in front of the team benches during anthems while coaching staff were instructed to remain stationary in front of their designated dugouts. Tuchel publicly called on FIFA to revise those guidelines, and the governing body acted swiftly.

FIFA updated its protocol to give head coaches the option to stand either to the left or the right of the media group, preserving a clear sightline to their players. Photographers will also be positioned more tightly together and moved closer to the halfway line. National team staff are now required to communicate their preferred coaching positions during standard pre-match operational meetings.

The new rules came into effect immediately across all host stadiums, with the Czech Republic versus South Africa fixture among the first to operate under the revised guidelines. England’s subsequent group-stage matches against Ghana and Panama were played under the updated protocol, with Tuchel and his staff reported to have had an unobstructed view throughout both anthems.

England will next face DR Congo in the round of 32, with the protocol change now firmly embedded in tournament procedure.