A series of candid photographs taken in the tunnels of stadiums across the United States offers an intimate glimpse into the pre-match rituals and mental states of football's biggest stars at the 2026 World Cup. From Lionel Messi leading Argentina out for warm-ups to Erling Haaland awaiting kick-off, these images capture the final moments of preparation before battle.
Pre-Match Routines and Tunnel Moments
Footballers are known for their eclectic matchday rituals: Lionel Messi likes to drink maté with teammate Rodrigo De Paul at exactly 9:30am, while Harry Kane always dons the left side of his kit first. These candid photos show the 2026 World Cup’s elite players finalising their mental and physical preparations. The images, captured by photographers from FIFA and Getty Images, reveal a range of emotions from intense focus to relaxed smiles.
Luka Modric of Croatia is seen reacting in the tunnel before playing Panama at Toronto Stadium, while Norway's Ørjan Håskjold Nyland closes his eyes and concentrates before their group match with Senegal at New York New Jersey Stadium. Lionel Messi leads Argentina out of the tunnel for their warm-up before playing Algeria at Kansas City Stadium.
Stars in Focus
A wide-eyed David Alaba of Austria is captured before the second half against Algeria at Kansas City Stadium. Aleksandar Pavlovic of Germany looks focused before playing Curaçao at Houston Stadium. Ritsu Doan and Shogo Taniguchi of Japan walk under a spotlight in the tunnel at half-time of their game against the Netherlands at Dallas Stadium. Jackson Irvine of Australia glances up before a group match against Paraguay at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.
Cristiano Ronaldo is seen smirking in the tunnel before Portugal’s game against Uzbekistan at Houston Stadium. France’s Kylian Mbappé looks steely before playing Norway at Boston Stadium. Viktor Gyökeres of Sweden is seen in the players’ tunnel during the group match between Japan and Sweden at Dallas Stadium. The Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk waits with teammates before playing Sweden at the Houston Stadium.
Emotional Reactions
Ben Hmida of Tunisia reacts with dismay in the tunnel after their 3-1 loss to the Netherlands at Kansas City Stadium. Dominik Kotarski of Croatia smiles in the tunnel before their group match with Ghana at Philadelphia Stadium. Team captains Rodri of Spain and Salem Aldawsari of Saudi Arabia lead their players out before their group match at Atlanta Stadium. Curaçao’s players look relaxed in the tunnel during their game against Germany at Houston Stadium.
Emiliano Martínez of Argentina gears up for their group match with Austria at Dallas Stadium. Denzel Dumfries of Netherlands shoots a sideways glance as he exits the tunnel before the warm-up against Tunisia at Kansas City Stadium. Yasin Ayari of Sweden sits in the tunnel before their group game with Tunisia at Monterrey Stadium. Harry Kane leads the England team out of the tunnel for their game against Croatia at Dallas Stadium.
Intensity and Light
Edgar Yoel Barcenas of Panama stares intently before taking on Croatia at Toronto Stadium. Achraf Hakimi of Morocco catches a sliver of light as he runs out of the tunnel for the warm-up before playing Scotland in Boston. A laser-focused Erling Haaland of Norway awaits the start of their group game with Senegal at New York New Jersey Stadium. Luka Modric of Croatia focuses in the tunnel before a game with Panama.
Côte d’Ivoire players are seen looking animated in the tunnel before the second half of their match with Curaçao in Philadelphia. Matías Galarza of Paraguay runs his fingers through his hair before playing Australia at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Djibril Sow of Switzerland catches a pool of warm sunlight in the tunnel before their group match with Canada in Vancouver. John Souttar of Scotland walks out of the tunnel with teammates before playing Morocco at Boston Stadium. England’s Jude Bellingham keeps his gaze low as he heads out to warm up before playing Ghana at Boston Stadium.
