FIFA has unveiled a new pre-match ceremony format for the 2026 World Cup, marking a significant departure from the traditional routine that has long been a fixture of football’s biggest stage.

Under the new arrangement, every player named in a matchday squad not just the starting eleven will walk out onto the pitch before each match. Rather than the familiar sight of two lines of eleven players assembled near the centre circle, all members of both teams’ matchday squads will now enter the field through a dedicated arch alongside youth escorts before gathering around the centre circle for the national anthems. FIFA added that large national flag banners will be displayed prominently on either side of the pitch to further enhance the pre-match atmosphere.

The governing body said the initiative was designed to ensure that every player selected for a match, regardless of whether they are named in the starting lineup, could share in the singular experience of representing their nation on football’s grandest stage. In a statement issued on Thursday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino framed the change as a gesture of inclusion and unity. “The FIFA World Cup is about every player and every fan, and this new pre-match ceremony reflects that,” he said. He added that having all players and referees face one another during the national anthems would create “a moment of unity, pride and emotion.”

The ceremonial adjustment arrives as the 2026 World Cup prepares to make history in several other ways. The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, will be the first edition to feature 48 teams, a substantial expansion from the 32-team format used at previous editions. Twelve groups of four teams will contest the group stage, with the top two from each group and the eight best third-placed sides advancing to a new Round of 32 knockout phase, bringing the total number of matches in the tournament to 104.

The new pre-match format is expected to be particularly meaningful for squad players, substitutes, and those who have travelled as part of a nation’s delegation but whose opportunities for game time may be limited across the tournament. For many, walking out through the arch at a World Cup stadium in North America will represent the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition, regardless of whether they feature prominently in their team’s matches.