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Rabat – Following England’s World Cup opener against Croatia, manager Thomas Tuchel criticized FIFA’s match organization, noting that the tight positioning of photographers completely obstructed his view of the team during the national anthem.
Tuchel expressed his frustration at being blocked from seeing his players, urging the governing body to reconsider its pre-match setup.
“I beg FIFA to change the photographers’ positions during the national anthem,” Tuchel said. “I couldn’t see my team at all at that moment, even though I was eagerly awaiting it. It was a very special and unique moment for me.”
Tuchel further detailed the setup, adding: “I found myself standing behind a human wall of about 50 photographers, separated from me by only half a meter. I couldn’t see a single player from my team, which deeply frustrated me during such a significant moment.”
The new 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament protocol grants pitchside photographers direct access to the midfield touchline to capture front-facing emotional shots during the pre-match ceremonies.
With high profile games such as England vs. Croatia has seen an unprecedented influx of photographers and media personnel, allowing the dense of roughly 50 accredited photographers, just half meter from the technical benches.
England kicked off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in Group L with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Croatia at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
