Tuchel celebrates England’s World Cup debut, but blasts FIFA over anthem coverage

Thomas Tuchel could hardly have asked for a better World Cup debut as England beat Croatia 4-2 on Wednesday night in their opening match at the 2026 tournament. The performance was widely impressive, and Tuchel said he was very pleased with what he saw from his players on the pitch.

But after the match, the England coach turned his criticism away from football and toward the way the pregame national anthems were handled. Speaking in an interview after the game, the German coach said he was frustrated by the camera setup during the anthem ceremony.

“I beg FIFA to change the position of the photographers during the national anthem,” Tuchel said. “I could not see my team.” He added that he had been waiting for the moment and that it was very special, but “I was standing in front of a wall of 50 photographers. I could not see any player and it ruined the experience for me.”

The remarks came after England’s 4-2 win over Croatia, which was played on Wednesday and reported on Thursday morning, June 18, 2026. Tuchel’s complaint centered on the anthem presentation, not the result itself, which he described as an outstanding start to the World Cup.