Up to 52 players will meet in the center of the field to sing the anthems during the World Cup, instead of the 22 starters who are traditionally lined up before matches.
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/2026/06/05/6a229725c528d075295531.png "2026 World Cup: Fifa announces a new ceremony around the central circle, with the substitutes, at the time of the anthems")
At the World Cup, the holders will no longer be the only ones in the spotlight during the anthems. The International Football Federation (Fifa) announced, in a press release published Thursday June 4, a “nouveau concept de cérémonie à 360 degrés”I would like to gather “all the players in the squad are able to play the match” around the central circle for the 2026 World Cup (June 11-July 19), and no longer lined up facing the sidelines.
“The two squads will gather around the banner placed in the center of the field for the national anthems, so that each of them – and not just the starters – can experience all the emotion and pride of representing their country”explains the International Federation. Up to 52 players could therefore be brought together, since the selectors had the possibility of calling 26 elements.
Large banners in the colors of the flags of the two countries will adorn the field. “No matter where fans sit in the stadium, they will have a unique view of the events”affirms the authority. The press release also specifies that new elements could be added for matches in the knockout phase, such as “colored smoke or pyrotechnic effects”.
