FIFA has presented a new conception of the ceremonies before the matches at the 2026 World Cup, and the goal is to further increase the emotion, connect players and fans, and raise the moment, which already carries special tension, to an even higher level.
The new ceremony is designed so that in fans and national teams will be in the centerwith a soundtrack from the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album. FIFA announces 360-degree immersive conceptwhich will turn the entire stadium into a common stage, reports official site umbrella football organization.
Regardless of where they are in the stands, fans should have an impressive view of the ceremony. Especially large flags of the participating countries, as well as elements placed on the lawn, will be arranged in such a way as to involve the audience even more strongly in the atmosphere before the start of the match.
All players will be part of the festive moment
The players will go out on the field accompanied by children from the youth program, through a special arch placed on the side closest to their tunnel. The ceremony will also include additional visual elements – the central banner in the circle in the center of the field, the hand flags of the countries and the recognizable FIFA branding on the turf.
One of the the most important changes refers to the performance of hymns. The center of attention will not be only the starting 11 playersbut all football players registered for the match. They will gather around the banner in the center circle and together welcome the performance of the national anthems, with which FIFA wants to emphasize the unity, pride and emotion of representing their country on the biggest football stage.
As the World Cup grows, we continue to introduce innovations in the mode on which football is experiencedsaid FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
That all players and referees will stand against each other in the center circle during the national anthems will create a moment of unity, pride and emotion that belongs to the teams and everyone in the stadium. The World Cup is about every player and every fan, and this new pre-match ceremony reflects just thatInfantino added.
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After the anthems will follow traditional protocol before the start of the match – handshakes, joint photos of the starting lineups, and then a coin toss to choose the side or kick-off.
As the tournament progresses, the ceremonies will acquire additional elements. FIFA announces that in the later phase of the World Cup, it will be possible to see colored smoke and pyrotechnic effects, which will further enhance the spectacle ahead of the most important matches.
(www.jabuka.tv | Sipa-USA/Pixsell)
