FIFA introduces NEW World Cup pre-match ceremony format
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
Every FIFA World Cup 2026 game will have both starters and substitutes during the national anthem.
Before the national anthems are played, all of the players in a matchday squad will line up around the centre circle. This will be part of a unique pre-game ceremony announced by FIFA for the 2026 World Cup.
The players will enter the pitch through a special arch near the tunnel. The ceremony will also feature extra-large banners of the national flag.
Even the substitutes will line up on the field before the game starts, thanks to FIFA’s new pre-match ritual.
This comes after FIFA implemented an NBA-style walkout at the Club World Cup last year. It was also held in the United States. The players’ names were read out when they emerged from the tunnel.
Substitutes to join starters during the national anthem at the FIFA World Cup 2026
The players will be ushered onto the pitch by kids during the FIFA World Cup 2026 games, but their names won’t be read out individually.
According to FIFA, the goal of the new walkout ceremony is to give everyone in the stadium a 360-degree perspective of what is happening.
The customary pre-match procedures, such as handshakes and team portraits of the starting lineup, will begin after the national anthems are played.
After that, each side’s captains will toss a coin.
New rules to be added before kick-off at FIFA World Cup 2026
FIFA has also announced that new features, such as fireworks and coloured fog, will be added to the pre-match spectacle as the World Cup progresses.
“As the FIFA World Cup grows, we continue to innovate the way the game is experienced,” Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, said 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.”
Why will substitutes join during the national anthem?
FIFA’s brand-new pre-match ceremony will see the matchday squad on the pitch during the national anthem.
When is the first FIFA World Cup 2026 game?
On 12th June at 12:30 am IST.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram.
After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.