Overview
- England manager Thomas Tuchel said photographers formed a 'wall' in front of his dugout and 'ruined' his view of his players during the national anthem after England's 4-2 win over Croatia.
- Within about 24 hours FIFA revised pre-match protocol by clustering photographers closer to the halfway line and allowing coaches to stand to the left or right to secure an unobstructed view.
- The problem stemmed from AT&T Stadium's layout and recent pitch modifications that narrowed sideline space and pushed photographers unusually close to coaching areas.
- Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett publicly backed Tuchel's demand, while some reports warned the compromise may not satisfy him and flagged the risk of the same issue recurring at NFL-style venues in Boston and New York.
- Match organisers now must coordinate team positioning before games and further changes—such as moving photographers entirely to one side—are under discussion to prevent repeat clashes between media access and teams' ceremonial moments.