Thomas Tuchel Wins His Battle vs FIFA! WC Rule Change Triggered After ENG Boss' Complaint

Last Updated:June 19, 2026, 12:24 IST

Tuchel’s frustration at being unable to see England’s players during the national anthem has prompted FIFA to revise photographer positioning at World Cup matches.

Sometimes, all it takes is one complaint from the right person.

Just 24 hours after England manager Thomas Tuchel publicly criticised FIFA’s pre-match setup, world football’s governing body has revised its protocol for photographers during national anthems at the 2026 World Cup.

According to sources, FIFA has altered the positioning of photographers after receiving feedback from several teams, with Tuchel’s frustration bringing the issue firmly into the spotlight.

A Moment Tuchel Had Waited For

The England boss was left disappointed before the Three Lions’ World Cup opener against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday.

As England lined up to sing “God Save The King", Tuchel found his view completely blocked by a wall of photographers positioned directly in front of the team benches.

For a coach experiencing his first World Cup as a manager, it was a moment he had long dreamed about.

“I have to tell you something, I am begging FIFA to change the position of the photographers in the national anthem because I could not see my team in the national anthem," Tuchel said afterwards.

“I was waiting for this moment. It was a very, very special moment today and I was standing in front of a wall of 50 photographers, half a metre away, and I could not see one single player. It ruined a little bit my experience."

The 52-year-old added, “It is very emotional. When I was young and when I started coaching, this was too big to dream of this kind of occasion."

FIFA Makes A Quick Adjustment

FIFA has since responded by modifying the arrangement. Photographers will now be grouped more tightly together, while coaches will be given the option of standing slightly to one side during the anthem ceremony.

The revised setup was reportedly introduced for the first time during Thursday’s Group A clash between the Czech Republic and South Africa in Atlanta.

A Perfect Start For England

Tuchel’s anthem frustration did little to derail England’s evening.

After a chaotic first half saw Harry Kane twice score only for Croatia to respond, England emerged from the break transformed.

Jude Bellingham struck within two minutes of the restart before substitute Marcus Rashford sealed an entertaining 4-2 victory.

About the Author

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

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