FIFA is set to break with football tradition by presenting winners’ rings to the champions of Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium.
The American-style championship rings will be presented during the post-match ceremony, where United States President Donald Trump is also expected to present the World Cup trophy.
The move marks a significant departure from FIFA’s long-standing tradition of awarding only gold medals to World Cup winners. Winners’ rings are a longstanding feature of American sports, particularly in the NFL, where they are presented to Super Bowl champions.
A total of 30 exclusive rings will be awarded to members of the victorious team, while 1,996 replica rings will be made available for sale to fans.
Despite the tournament being co-hosted across North America, President Trump has not attended any of the 102 World Cup matches played so far, including all of the United States’ games before the host nation was eliminated by Belgium in the Round of 16.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had earlier hinted that Trump would attend the final, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has since confirmed that the US President will be present in the VIP section for the showpiece event.
However, the relationship between Infantino and Trump has attracted controversy during the tournament after reports emerged that the US President personally called the FIFA President to request a review of the red card shown to United States striker Folarin Balogun earlier in the competition.
Meanwhile, FIFA is also monitoring weather conditions ahead of the final after authorities issued an air quality warning for the New York and New Jersey area due to ongoing wildfires in Canada.
Despite the warning, officials have said there is currently no indication that the match at MetLife Stadium will be delayed or disrupted.
Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain is expected to combine world-class football with the spectacle of American sports entertainment as FIFA crowns its next world champion.
