FIFA Changes the National Anthem Ceremony

It is one of the most emotional moments in all of sport, players standing shoulder to shoulder, hand on heart, as their national anthem plays before a World Cup match.

In 2026, FIFA has made sure every single player on the squad feels that moment, not just the starting eleven.

FIFA announced that all players – including the substitute – in their respective matchday squads will gather around the centre circle for the national anthems.

The ceremony will also see each country’s flag on display.

Shift from the norm

For years, substitutes and squad players watched the anthem from the dugout, close enough to hear the music but far enough from the action to feel like spectators at their own tournament.

That changes in 2026. Every player named in the matchday squad will stand on the pitch, in the centre circle, as their flag is raised and their anthem plays.

It is a small change with a huge emotional weight.

For the substitute who has spent years working toward this moment, who may never get a single minute on the pitch, standing under the floodlights during their country’s anthem is the kind of memory that lasts a lifetime.

A new World Cup tradition is coming. Read Original