FIFA allows Spanish questions at World Cup press conferences

FIFA has changed its language protocol for the 2026 World Cup, permitting questions and answers in Spanish during official press conferences. This decision follows criticism over earlier incidents where players were instructed to respond in English despite their preference for Spanish. The updates aim to facilitate better communication for Spanish-speaking journalists and players, particularly given the mixed-language context of the tournament being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Spanish will also be an additional interpretation language at press conferences, addressing concerns raised by players like Achraf Hakimi and Vinícius Jr., who faced difficulties when answering in English even when they preferred Spanish.

• 1:34 PMYahoo Sports — FIFA reverses World Cup press conference stance and will allow questions in Spanish