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For the first time in history, FIFA will award rings to the winners of the World Cup, similar to the tradition in American sports like the NBA, the international governing body of association football announced on Friday.
The final match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place on Sunday, July 19, at the New York/New Jersey Stadium, where Argentina, the current holders of the trophy, will face Spain, the reigning European champions.
"On Sunday, July 19, the champions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be crowned at the New York/New Jersey Stadium. In addition to the iconic trophy and the prestigious gold medals, the winning team will receive a new symbol of triumph," FIFA stated in a release. "In a memorable first for a FIFA competition, the tournament winners will receive personalized championship rings, bringing one of the most recognized American sports traditions into the global sports world."
Each ring will be part of a strictly limited edition of 2,026 individually numbered pieces, a direct homage to the tournament itself. Of these, 30 will be given to the winning team, while 1,996 will be made available to fans worldwide as "Official Licensed Products," allowing supporters to purchase a unique piece of FIFA World Cup 2026 history.
Spain has expressed confidence entering the final, citing their recent victory at Euro 2024 and an impressive 37-game unbeaten streak, according to a BBC report. "The final moment has arrived, and Spain wants our second star. To win this World Cup, we don't need to do anything spectacular - we just need to keep calm and carry on playing the same way," the report quoted a Spanish team source as saying.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will not attend the final. Despite the opportunity for informal discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump, who will be present, von der Leyen's spokesperson cited schedule conflicts. "The president received an invitation to the final of the World Cup but for agenda reasons will not go," Paula Pinho, chief spokesperson of the European Commission, told POLITICO.
The final will feature a halftime show produced by the NGO Global Citizen and organized by Coldplay's Chris Martin, with performances by Shakira, Madonna, Justin Bieber, and others. This is the first time a halftime show will be included in a World Cup final, extending the halftime break beyond the usual 15 minutes, according to FIFA's communication.
Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić has been chosen to officiate the final, according to a source.
The rings will feature the FIFA World Cup trophy on one side and be personalized to reflect the identity of the winning team on the other. Each ring will be individually numbered, personalized, and come with its own certificate of authenticity, FIFA emphasized.
Immediately after the final, the captain and head coach of the winning team will receive temporary rings to celebrate the occasion. The 30 rings reserved for the winners will then be personalized before being officially presented at a later date.
The final match will be attended by U.S. President Donald Trump, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and Spain’s King Felipe VI, according to a source.
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