World Cup Winners Will Receive Championship Rings for the First Time
For the first time in the World Cup's 96-year history, the tournament's winners will receive championship rings alongside the trophy and winners' medals, marking a first for any FIFA competition.
It is interesting to know that the winners of Sunday's FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will make history before they even leave the podium.
For the first time,FIFA will award championship rings to the winners of the World Cup, adding a new honour to the trophy and gold medals traditionally presented to the champions. It is also the first time such an award has been introduced at any FIFA competition.
The rings will be presented after the final at New York New Jersey Stadium, where either Spain or Argentina will be crowned world champions.
How the Rings Will Be Awarded
During the trophy ceremony, the winning captain and head coach will receive temporary championship rings. FIFA will later present custom-made rings to the players and members of the coaching staff after each piece has been tailored to fit its recipient.
Every ring will be individually numbered and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. One side features the FIFA World Cup trophy, while the other will be customised with the identity of the winning nation.
A Familiar Tradition in North American Sport
While championship rings are new to FIFA competitions,they have long been part of professional sport in North America, where title-winning teams in leagues such as the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL receive commemorative rings alongside their trophies.
Their introduction at the World Cup means football's biggest tournament is adopting a tradition that millions of North American sports fans already associate with championship success.
Only 30 Will Go to the Champions
FIFA has produced2,026 rings to commemorate the 2026 tournament.
Thirty have been set aside for the World Cup winners and the remaining 1,996 will be made available to fans around the world as official licensed collectibles.
The trophy will still be the defining image of Sunday's final. The medals will still mark the players as world champions.
The rings simply become the newest addition to a celebration that, until now, had changed very little in the World Cup's 96-year history.