For photographer Christopher Johnson, the stadium is the studio

Working among the world’s top photographers at the FIFA World Cup 2026, journalist Christopher Johnson sought something different. He explains how he captured and selected these photographs from thousands shot in Toronto, Seattle and Vancouver in June and July 2026.

TORONTO

“FIFA, like other sports organizations, puts restrictions on photographers: no flash, no entering the pitch, no selfies with players. We’re part of a highly organized operation. A day before the match, we choose our positions online, and then must stay in our assigned seats during the game, inside a security zone protected by hundreds of guards and police. But we’re allowed to move around the pitch during pre-game warm-ups. It’s a precious chance to find angles on players, fans and stadiums.”

“The media tribune (tables in white) beside the TV cameras high above mid-field, is perhaps the best position to photograph the opening ceremony in Toronto. But from my field position, I can get a more intimate shot of volunteers putting a massive red flag on the field.”

“Before the match, FIFA reps lead photographers inside ropes to midfield for the player entries and national anthems. For me, it’s a brief chance to capture Team Canada players singing at once. It’s a more natural shot than the staged photographs of the starting 11 posing in front of us.”

“I spent much of the game shooting with longer lenses from my fixed position near the corner kick flag, but I kept my ultra-wide handy to capture images like this Bosnian player flying into a slide in front of me.”

“I didn’t realize at the time that this was my last chance to photograph midfielder Ismaël Koné walking off the pitch at the World Cup. Luckily I didn’t delete it. His leg was broken in Canada’s next game versus Qatar.”

“After putting gear on my assigned seat, I move around the field as much as possible to photograph fans before players enter the pitch ahead of the game. This fan stood out from thousands wearing Ghana colors.”

“When a cold rain began at kick-off, I used my ponchos and towels to protected my gear first, my body second. I was tired and ready to pack up when Caleb Yirenkyi scored the winning goal for Ghana late in stoppage time against Panama. I rarely used my ultra-wide this game, but luckily had it out and ready when they scored and celebrated in front of me.”

“Instead of resting before the game, I often take hundreds of shots during warm-ups. Noticing me, Germany’s legendary keeper Manuel Neuer, hero of the 2014 World Cup, looks right into my lens while making a save.”

“Before choosing my position, I spent a lot of time figuring out where to sit in order to use the light and shadow at BMO Field. Luckily, conditions were perfect from 7 pm during the first half when midfield maestro Luka Modric and Croatia were attacking toward my end of the pitch. Since I shoot on manual not automatic, I could under-expose images to darken the background and shed light on Modric and others. By half-time, the light and shadow were gone. It became a different shoot.”

“I didn’t plan to make this image. Sometimes they happen by accident.”

“Another reason to keep a wide lens handy for rare moments of insight. Marco Pašalić and Ivan Perišić made curling crosses for Croatia right in front of me. Luckily, they both kicked with their left foot, not their right.”

“The mix of moisture and heat steaming off the field created zones of light throwing off autofocus systems on our cameras during Germany’s game with Ivory Coast. Seeking solutions, I looked for insights into action closer to me, such as the amazing trajectory of this throw-in.”

“I wasn’t fortunate enough to get a seat in Group A where players tend to celebrate in front of photographers for agencies such as Getty, AP, AFP, Reuters, Kyodo and Xinhua. So I made the most of my seat on the far sideline. From this angle, I could capture Ivory Coast players watching striker Deniz Undav celebrating his goal in front of his fans in Toronto.”

“This beautiful child stood out from thousands of fans with German flags and jerseys. Parents often ask us to photograph their children at games.”

“For a different angle, I chose to sit in the media tribune above midfield for the Senegal-Iraq game in Toronto. This position can provide cleaner images without the clutter of advertising and fans in the background.”

“I could capture Senegal celebrating in front of Iraq’s solitary keeper.”

“This position also gave me solid patterns and colours for use with multiple exposures done in the camera, not with Photoshop.”

“On the field, this shot would have advertising, fans, players and other clutter behind it. Fresh angles can offer new insights and cleaner images.”

“Nothing much was happening here. But this higher angle shed fresh light on the athleticism, balance and acrobatics of these world-class athletes.”

“Something different than guys kicking with their feet. The keeper looks like an NFL or CFL quarterback here throwing a pass with good form.”

“Instead of going to Vancouver earlier as planned, I stayed longer in Toronto with the hope of photographing iconic striker Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal. Luckily, they warmed up in front of my position, giving me more time to experiment with multiple exposure techniques.”

“Before the game, I took as many shots of Ronaldo as possible using various angles, lighting, effects and techniques. He clearly understands the needs of photographers who might never get the chance to photograph him in a studio. He often stood near us in good light to salute the fans. I used my gear and access to bring viewers as close to him as possible.”

“Many workers, security personnel and stadium staff were also thrilled to see Ronaldo and Modric up close. This lovely volunteer caught my attention and smiled into the camera before taking the pitch.”

“Since I love shooting basketball, I also enjoy the aerial battles in soccer.”

“I knew from previous games that shadows would be gone by half-time. So I looked for any chance to photograph Ronaldo in this magic light.”

“This image struck me in a weird way — Ronaldo watching Modric and his teammate handing the ball on a platter to the referee instead of berating him or begging for something.”

“Right in front of my ultra-wide lens, Modric somehow (through a crowd of players) saw a teammate 50 yards down the field and hit him with a perfect pass that nearly resulted in a goal for Croatia. A wizard at work.”

“The moment of inevitability when Ronaldo’s little flick beats the keeper.”

“I wanted shots with Modric and Ronaldo in the frame. In this, Modric waits while Ronaldo concentrates before scoring on a penalty shot.”

“The scoreboard caught my eye because the referee granted more than 17 minutes of stoppage time. I’ve never seen that in a World Cup match.”

“This was the final World Cup for Modric, who was voted the best player at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Luckily for me, the teams parted just at the moment when Ronaldo consoled his former Real Madrid teammate.”

SEATTLE

“I was thrilled when FIFA accredited me for the USA-Belgium Round of 16 game at Seattle’s Lumen Field, home of the NFL’s loudest fans.”

“Seattle is famously a freak show with exuberant and creative people.”

“To help broadcasters, the stadium kept overhead lights on for the 5 pm start because of shadows covering the field while many fans sat in blazing sunlight. After researching this, I chose a photo position a day earlier to make use of these challenging light conditions. I also wanted the stadium’s design and the Seattle skyline in the background.”

“I had to get a close-up shot of US player Folarin Balogun. He was suddenly in the global news spotlight because President Trump was bragging about getting FIFA to remove his red card suspension.”

“It’s funny to watch a player lie down on the pitch in the wall while others spring to action during a free kick. Imagine this in basketball or hockey.”

“It’s rare to see a player look into the camera in the middle of the action.”

“I didn’t notice Christian Pulisic spitting until this appeared on my laptop. The camera can see things that I can’t from 50 or 100 yards away.”

“After a goal, I’m looking for anything I can get, and trying to stay calm while the crowd explodes. From 100 yards away, sometimes the losing player’s reaction is better than the scoring team’s celebration. “

“At first, I wasn’t satisfied when I saw the original shot on my computer. My position was good for the celebration, but challenging for exposure.”

“A photo doesn’t become art simply because it’s black-and-white. I seldom use this effect. But this time I tried it to enhance the silhouette of USA players in shadows celebrating before fans in bright sunlight.”

“I kept the full sequence instead of choosing one and deleting others.”

“If I’m in a fortunate position after a goal, I’ll look for a shot to capture reactions from both teams. This time I found the moment of inevitability when US keeper Matt Freeze saw his mistake turn into a goal celebration for Belgium. Freese later said he would never get over the loss.”

“Seattle is famous for producing iconic musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder. While I once had the privilege of shooting Pearl Jam up close at Pink Pop in Holland, it was special to find Vedder in his box high above the action guzzling a Belgian Stella Artois beer perhaps 50 yards from my position.”

“After packing up my gear, I always keep a camera handy in case I notice something on my way out of the stadium — such as this solitary fan.”

VANCOUVER

“I originally planned to shoot several games in Vancouver. But I stayed in Toronto longer because Toronto’s natural light was better than the light in Vancouver’s BC place, where they closed the roof to remove shadows on TV, despite the spectacular summer light of the Pacific coast.”

“I spend a lot of energy before the game shooting playings warming up.”

“I chose the same position on the sideline at BC Place where I had photographed the FIFA Women’s World Cup final in 2015. I had plenty of room there to shoot without obstructions. Some independent shooters prefer this position to more crowded areas near the goal or corner flag, where players tend to celebrate in front of shooters from big agencies.”

“With fans right behind me, I’m in a vortex of crowd noise, like a jet taking off. It’s an incredible experience in a torrent of tension and euphoria. Colombian fans, who outnumbered Swiss fans 10 to 1, were even louder indoors than fans in Seattle’s famous “amplifier” stadium. Some of them were praying when they weren’t hollering.”

“From this sideline position, I have clear views of midfield battles and the penalty area on my side of the field.”

“From this position, I can also sometimes hear players communicating with each other. I get a deeper sense of their teamwork and exhaustion.”

“From this position, I can also glean fresh insights on the cat-like leaping ability of goalies and their skill at closing down angles on attackers.”

“Keepers are much tougher than many fans realize. They deal with attackers running at full speed, jumping into them or falling under them.”

“During a penalty shootout, many photographers run to get standing or seated positions near the goal. Instead of searching for a new angle, I decided to keep my same seat to get a clear view of reactions by shooters and keepers. Staying put also helped me keep my heart-rate down amid the tension on the field and the delirium in the crowd.”

“After missing a shot, distraught players react toward me, and not their own benches. Some try to hide emotions behind their hands, but this also reveals their anguish or shame.”

“It’s challenging to get both a shooter and a keeper in one shot, because we aren’t allowed to go behind the net or distract the players. Luckily, the Swiss keeper went for strolls to relieve pressure or put it on opponents.”

“When Ruben Vargas scored the winning goal for Switzerland, he bolted away from me toward the far corner flag area to celebrate in front of agency photographers with Swiss teammates pouring off the nearby bench. I had to patiently focus on their celebration for a long time to finally get a clear shot of the smile on his face.”

“Laying on the pitch after the game, these guys look like a big family of brothers. It must feel incredible to share the joy of victory together.”

“Out of hundreds of shots of distraught Colombians, I chose this photo of defender Johan Mojica because he was expressing the agony of defeat through his face, posture and also his abdomen.”

FAN FESTIVALS

“FIFA and local organizers set up Fan Festivals in Toronto, Vancouver and other cities. Organizers in Vancouver turned this into a music festival featuring dozens of bands and DJs from Canada and elsewhere playing in two areas, including a stage under a new amphitheater next to the carnival rides at the Pacific National Exhibition in east Vancouver.”

“I swore that I saw Spanish teen phenom Lamine Yamal in the crowd.”

“The FIFA World Cup 2026 had an amazing vibe that turned Canada into a soccer nation where more kids play soccer than hockey, basketball, baseball or other sports. The future is bright for Canada and the sport. I felt incredibly fortunate to be a part of this. It was like a childhood dream for me as an adult, and for kids who might become photographers.”

For photographer Christopher Johnson, the stadium is the studio

Published by

Globalite Magazine

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Published by

Globalite Magazine