FIFA is reportedly ditching single-player walkout for a ‘new form’ at the World Cup

This past summer, FIFA treated its newly expanded Club World Cup in the U.S. as somewhat of a test run for the 2026 World Cup this summer. And among the changes from that tournament, FIFA tinkered with how the teams walked out onto the field.

That’s apparently changing again for June’s World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

During the Club World Cup, FIFA had players walk out individually for NBA-style introductions. Anyone who has watched soccer for the past several decades knows that traditionally the teams walk out together with little kids accompanying each player.

It’s part of the pageantry of soccer. And really, it’s not a problem that needs any fixing. So leave it to FIFA to try to fix an issue that doesn’t exist.

🚨 Exclusive: FIFA are set to ditch single-player walk outs at the 2026 World Cup after using them at the Club World Cup.

However, it’s understood FIFA are now trialing a new form of walkout, rather than committing to the traditional football entry.

Plans currently framed… pic.twitter.com/22N3viniHf

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) May 13, 2026

According to soccer journalist Ben Jacobs, FIFA is going to scrap the single-player walkout that we saw from the Club World Cup. But rather than just return to the traditional walkout format, FIFA is trialing something new. What that something looks like — well, it’s unclear.

But odds are that fans are going to hate it.

FIFA are experts are ‘fixing’ problems that never existed in the first place. Such a farce. https://t.co/n0VgRvk2b7

— Neal 🇦🇺 (@NealGardner_) May 13, 2026

JFC.

This is FIFA, I repeat FIFA, but they’ll still blame it on Americans. https://t.co/qklRsdyiIH

— herculez gomez (@herculezg) May 13, 2026

I’m glad they are getting rid of the individual player walk outs. But knowing FIFA, whatever they are working on now will inevitably be worse.

Just leave the game alone. Stop with the over Americanization of this World Cup. https://t.co/qgwtIA8szw

— Passport Soccer (@passport_soccer) May 13, 2026

How about they just walk out like normal? Bit of a rogue idea I know🤯 https://t.co/nTwxUTAfO1

— Lucy (@lisa03865019) May 13, 2026

Everything shaping up nicely for this world cup to be the worst ever https://t.co/2RLSPVxqqj

— Emzel (@Emzyl_) May 13, 2026

I cannot stand these guys man https://t.co/CYuhqAkdkG

— Adam Gibson (@AdamGibson112) May 13, 2026

Leave. It. Alone.

ffs, what’s the matter with these people? https://t.co/9tklsEVsO7

— Simon Curtis (@bifana_bifana) May 13, 2026

Really, there’s no reason to mess with a walkout that everyone was already OK with. Leave it alone.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: FIFA ditching single-player walkout from Club World Cup for something new at World Cup