The biggest issue is simple: football runs on the clock.
Reports say the one-by-one introductions regularly stretched pre-match routines and nudged kick-offs beyond their advertised start times. That may be normal in some American sports, but football culture is less forgiving. Broadcasters, coaches and supporters all build around a fixed start, and major tournaments already carry enough ceremony before the ball moves.
For , that matters even more in 2026, when logistics, travel and climate will already place extra strain on scheduling.
There is still an argument for keeping some of the idea.
That is the balance now seems to be chasing: individual visibility without losing the collective feel of a team entrance. Football’s best pre-match moments are usually shared ones - tunnel shots, line-ups, anthem, then kick-off. Breaking that flow for every starter risks making the ceremony the main event.
The other live issue is commercial.
The report says is also considering allowing adverts during three-minute cooling breaks in each half, with heat expected to be a major factor at some venues. From a broadcast standpoint, the logic is obvious: natural stoppages create sellable inventory. But it also adds to the sense that tournament presentation in 2026 will be a test of how far football wants to lean into an American event model.
The next step will be the revealing one. Watch for to land on a compromise: faster entrances, controlled player spotlights and tightly managed breaks. The challenge is not creating a bigger show. It is making sure the show still feels like football.