Tuchel's complaints lead to Fifa moving photographers

Image source, PA Media

• Published18 June 2026

England head coach Thomas Tuchel has won a battle with Fifa to get photographers moved away from the bench during the national anthems.

Tuchel said he "could not see my team" before Wednesday's 4-2 win over Croatia, with a wall of photographers blocking his view to the pitch.

After taking on board feedback from a number of people, including Tuchel, Fifa has altered its policy and put in place a compromise used at other tournaments.

Photographers may be grouped in a huddle, potentially closer to the halfway line.

The coaching staff will no longer be required to remain in front of the dugouts, instead they will be permitted to move to the left or the right of the photographers for an unobstructed view of the squads around the centre circle.

However it is unclear if Fifa's changes will assuage Tuchel's concerns. BBC Sport understands that the Football Association is still awaiting discussions with football's world governing body over the issue.

The Group L game in Dallas was Tuchel's first as a World Cup manager but he revealed the occasion, particularly the emotion of the national anthems, was spoiled.

"I have to tell you something. I'm begging Fifa to change the position of the photographers in the national anthem, because I could not see my team," Tuchel said.

"It was a very special moment, and I was standing in front of a wall of 50 photographers and I could not see one single player. It ruined a little bit my experience."

The AT&T Stadium usually serves as the home of the Dallas Cowboys, with the NFL field too small for World Cup matches.

The surface had to be raised 1.2m to be able to fit in a football pitch, which meant part of the sidelines were lost - resulting in limited space for the coaches and the photographers during the national anthems.

Fifa first deployed the new approach during Thursday's Group A fixture between Czech Republic and South Africa in Atlanta.

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Related topics

• Football
• England Men's Football Team
• FIFA World Cup 2026

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