World Cup 2026: World Cup rings for winners as Donald Trump to attend final

World Cup 2026: World Cup rings for winners as Donald Trump to attend final

FIFA will break with football tradition by awarding championship rings to the winners of the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19. The match, featuring Argentina and Spain, will take place at 3 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The introduction of rings is a first for the tournament, moving away from the historical reliance on gold medals. FIFA stated it is bringing (the) iconic American sporting tradition to global football, echoing practices found in U.S. Leagues such as the NFL’s Super Bowl.

A total of 2,026 individually numbered rings will be produced. Thirty are reserved for the world champions, while 1,996 replicas will be available for fans to purchase. The rings will feature a mini World Cup trophy on one side and a customized design reflecting the identity of the winning team on the other. Each ring includes an engraving in the band and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Because permanent rings must be custom-fitted, the winning head coach and captain will receive temporary rings immediately following the final. The full squad will eventually receive three distinct symbols of victory: the FIFA World Cup Trophy, gold winners' medals, and the championship rings.

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend the final and present the trophy. His attendance was confirmed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. While it is common for host-country heads of state to attend finals, Trump has not attended any of the 102 matches played so far in the tournament, including any of the United States' fixtures before they were eliminated by Belgium in the last 16.

The President's presence follows a significant controversy involving his relationship with Gianni Infantino. Trump personally called the FIFA chief to request a review of a red card issued to U.S. Striker Folarin Balogun. FIFA subsequently suspended Balogun's automatic ban, allowing him to play in the knockout match against Belgium, where the U.S. Lost 4-1. This decision drew criticism regarding the integrity of the tournament, especially as FIFA denied similar appeals for red or yellow card reviews from England and France.

President Trump has a history of attending major sporting events, including the NBA finals, the US Open tennis tournament, the Ryder Cup, and the Super Bowl. He also hosted the UFC at the White House during his two presidential terms.

The final concludes a tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Before the showpiece event on Sunday, England and France will compete in the third-place match on Saturday in Miami.

On the pitch, Argentina is attempting to become the first men's team to repeat as world champion since 1962. Spain is seeking its second World Cup title and first since 2010. Spain advanced to the final by defeating France 2-0 in the semifinals, while Argentina secured their spot with a 2-1 comeback win over England.

Officials are monitoring a weather warning in the New York and New Jersey area due to poor air quality caused by wildfires in Canada. Despite the hazy conditions, there is currently no indication that the final at MetLife Stadium will be delayed or affected.