Thomas Tuchel has won a battle with FIFA after the governing body agreed to change photographer positioning during national anthems at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The move comes days after the England manager complained that photographers had blocked his view of his players before their opening win over Croatia.
England's 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas marked Tuchel's first match as a World Cup manager. While the Harry Kane-led side impressed on the pitch , the German coach admitted afterwards that one of the most emotional moments of the evening had been spoilt.
England vs Croatia, FIFA World Cup 2026: Highlights
"I have to tell you something. I'm begging FIFA to change the position of the photographers in the national anthem, because I could not see my team," Tuchel said after the match.
"It was a very special moment, and I was standing in front of a wall of 50 photographers and I could not see one single player. It ruined a little bit my experience."
Tuchel's comments quickly gained traction across the football world, particularly because the national anthem is traditionally one of the most significant moments for coaches and players at a World Cup. Television cameras had shown photographers lining the touchline directly in front of the England bench as the players sang 'God Save The King'.
FIFA has now responded by introducing a revised arrangement. Photographers will be grouped together closer to the halfway line, while coaches will be able to position themselves to the left or right, ensuring they have an unobstructed view of their players during the pre-match ceremony.
The change was first implemented during Thursday's Group A match between Czechia and South Africa and will now be adopted across all World Cup venues.
HOW A WORLD CUP VENUE CREATED THE ISSUE
The problem emerged largely because of the unique layout at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
The venue, home to the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, required significant modifications to host World Cup matches. Because an American football field is smaller than a FIFA-standard pitch, organisers had to raise the playing surface by approximately 1.2 metres to fit the required dimensions.
The redesign reduced the available space around the sidelines and created congestion between photographers, coaching staff and match officials during the national anthems.
While the issue may have appeared minor, it clearly mattered to Tuchel. The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager had waited years for his first World Cup match in charge of a national team, making the anthem a particularly meaningful moment.
The complaint also arrived during a memorable opening week of the tournament. Kylian Mbappe announced himself with a brace for France, Lionel Messi rolled back the years with a hat-trick for Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating draw with Portugal, and England produced one of the standout performances of the opening round.
FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | Football News
- Ends
Published By:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published On:
Jun 19, 2026 02:11 IST
Read the full article at India Today →
India