2 hours ago
2
Thomas Tuchel won his first battle at the 2026 World Cup before his team even kicked a ball. The England head coach successfully lobbied FIFA to relocate photographers who were obstructing his view during the national anthems ahead of England’s opening match against Croatia.
The incident took place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where Tuchel was making his debut as England manager on the World Cup stage. England went on to win that match 4-2.
A wall of cameras, half a meter away
Tuchel described the scene in blunt terms. He said he stood just “half a meter away” from what he called “a wall of 50 photographers” during the national anthem, unable to see any of his players.
“I’m begging FIFA to change the position of the photographers.”
FIFA confirmed it would adjust photographer positioning for subsequent England matches, ensuring the coaching staff could actually see the pitch and their players during the anthems.
Tuchel’s debut and the bigger picture in Texas
The photographer saga was a sideshow to what was otherwise a strong opening for England. The 4-2 victory over Croatia gave Tuchel the ideal start to his World Cup campaign.
Tuchel took over as England manager after a tenure that included high-profile roles at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich.
The venue itself added a layer of novelty. AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, is one of several American football stadiums being used for the 2026 World Cup. The photographer placement issue shows that some details only become apparent when 22 players, two coaching staffs, and dozens of media personnel are all occupying the same narrow strip of ground at the same time.
For England’s remaining group matches and any knockout games that follow, photographers will be positioned differently around the coaching area during anthem ceremonies.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
English (US) · 