Article by Aurelian Botezatu – Published Friday, 05 June 2026, 12:59 / Updated Friday, 05 June 2026 12:59
At the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada, for the first time, the reserve players will also be on the field in the pre-match ceremony.
FIFA made the announcement less than a week before the start of the final tournament (June 11) and gave reasons for its decision. “During the national anthems, all 26 players from each team will gather around the banner in the center circle so that each of them – not just the starting eleven – can experience this symbolic moment full of pride and emotion,” the press release reads.
Banner in center circle, national flags, FIFA logo
The teams will be accompanied by children and teenagers when they enter the field, as before, but “the pre-match ceremony will be enhanced with a number of additional visual elements, including a banner in the center circle, national flags and the distinctive FIFA logo on the field” – the world forum also states.
The reserves will no longer be on the field for the captains' handshake and the holders' team photo. Also, “the ceremony will be expanded to include additional elements such as colored smoke or pyrotechnics” as the final tournament progresses.
Fan-centric pre-match ceremony to debut at @FIFAWorldCup 2026
FIFA has unveiled a bold new vision for pre-match ceremonies at the FIFA World Cup 2026 designed to deepen the connection between players and fans while elevating a moment already rich with anticipation:
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) June 4, 2026
FIFA envisions “the idea of team unity. Everyone is part of the picture”
The purpose of all these novelties is to increase the visual impact of one of the most symbolic moments in international football. The anthem will not only be the prelude to the match but also an integral part of the overall spectacle of the World Cup. It is a stage designed for the stadium, but also for television, with a stronger production and a more recognizable image for each match.
The change will also have internal implications for teams. The presence of starters and reserves in the same space “reinforces the idea of team unity in a tournament where every detail counts and where the depth of the squad can be decisive”. In a long, demanding and unpredictable World Cup, everyone is part of the picture.
