For the first time in history, all players took part in the pre-match ceremony at the 2026 World Cup opening.
Before the match between Mexico and South Africa, during the national anthems, not only the starting eleven but all registered players and referees stood around the center circle.
FIFA has thus established a new tradition for World Cups. In previous tournaments, only starting players participated.
The 2026 World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
