Huge flags and pyrotechnics with World Cup anthems

Huge flags and pyrotechnics with World Cup anthemsImage source, FifaImage caption, The opening match of the World Cup between Mexico and South Africa will be the debut of the new ceremony for national anthemsByDale JohnsonFootball issues correspondentPublished8 minutes agoCommentsFifa has unveiled what it describes as a new "unique, immersive experience" pre-match ceremony for all matches at the 2026 World Cup.All available players in a team's squad will gather around the centre circle for the national anthems, with extra-large country flag banners on the pitch behind them.In previous World Cups, the starting XIs would be positioned in a line facing one of the stands with mascots in front of them.Fifa has been eager to find a new way of introducing the players which involves the whole stadium.For the 2025 Club World Cup, every starting player had an individual walk-on introduction. This proved unpopular because it added extra time to the pre-match formalities, and a number of games kicked off late. Now world football's governing body says it will create a "360-degree ceremony" which provides an "experience from every seat". Every player selected in the matchday squad will be joined by mascots and enter the field through a dedicated arch. All players from both full squads, up to 52 if all are available for the match, will then come together in the centre circle for the line-ups and national anthems."As the Fifa World Cup grows, we continue to innovate the way the game is experienced," said Fifa president Gianni Infantino."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."Later in the tournament, the ceremony will be enhanced to include coloured smoke or pyrote...