Huge flags and pyrotechnics with World Cup anthems
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. ll 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
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