The 2026 World Cup includes a number of Americanised changes from its original format, including an extended half-time concert for the final at New York/New Jersey Stadium. Viewers spotted one ahead of Friday’s World Cup opener between Mexico and South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca.
Players from both sides, including the two starting line-ups and the complete squad of substitutes, assembled around the centre circle for the national anthems. Traditionally, only the starting XI from each team, separated solely by match officials, line up for the anthems.
While viewers praised Tyla’s rendition of the South African anthem and Alejandro Fernandez’s performance of the national anthem, they were unimpressed by the FIFA-mandated adjustment, with one labelling the change “woke.
“Why’s the whole 26-man squad coming out for the national anthem then?” one posted on X. “Full squads for the national anthems is utter woke nonsense,” a different fan tweeted.
Another blamed Americans. “Whole squad on the pitch for the anthems? This is utter yank nonsense,” they said.
“Why the — is the whole squad there for the national anthem?” one tweeted.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, present at the Estadio Azteco to witness the opening match of his crown jewel, announced the national anthem change last week.
“As the FIFA World Cup grows, we continue to innovate the way the game is experienced,” he said. “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.”
FIFA is describing the new pre-match ceremony as “fan-centric” and it represents a shift away from Infantino’s 2025 Club World Cup, when players were introduced individually in a manner more reminiscent of MLB or NBA presentations.
There are numerous other changes for the 2026 World Cup. For starters, the tournament is the first to include 48 teams.
Furthermore, it’s the first to be hosted across three nations (Canada, Mexico, and the United States).