FIFA Modifies Photographer Rules After Tuchel's 2026 World Cup Complaint

FIFA announced Friday a modification of its rules concerning the positioning of photographers during national anthems at the 2026 World Cup, two days after a public complaint from England manager Thomas Tuchel.

During England’s opening match against Croatia on Wednesday — a 4-2 victory — Tuchel was blocked by a row of photographers positioned in front of the dugout during the anthem. “I was standing in front of a wall of 50 photographers, fifty centimetres away. I couldn’t see a single player. It somewhat spoiled my experience,” he said after the match, urging FIFA to review its rules.

The governing body reacted quickly. From now on, coaching staff will be able to leave their dugout and position themselves to the right or left of the photographers during anthems, with the latter remaining in their usual location. The aim is to guarantee coaches and staff members a direct line of sight to their players during this ceremonial moment.

The decision illustrates FIFA’s ability to adjust its procedures during a tournament when a complaint comes from a high-profile figure like Tuchel, former manager of Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich. It also highlights the logistical tensions inherent in organizing a World Cup expanded to 48 teams, where managing accreditations and spaces around the pitch becomes a key operational issue.