For the first time in the 96-year history of the World Cup, FIFA will award championship rings to the team that wins the 2026 World Cup, incorporating one of the most iconic traditions of American sports into football.
The organization led by Gianni Infantino announced the measure on July 16, three days before the final between Spain and Argentina at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
"In addition to the iconic trophy and prestigious gold medals, the winning team will receive, for the first time in a FIFA competition, an additional recognition: personalized champion rings. In this way, FIFA incorporates one of the deepest-rooted traditions in American sports into football," the organization explained.
The authorized site for marketing the pieces states that they will be made of 18-karat gold and will feature 89 diamonds and 36 sapphires. However, these specifications do not appear in the official FIFA statement.
"Only 2,026 pieces will be crafted, each individually numbered, in homage to the competition," the organization specified.
Of that total, 30 will be awarded to the winning team, and the remaining 1,996 will be available to fans worldwide as official licensed products. FIFA did not publicly specify how the 30 units will be distributed among players and coaching staff.
Each ring will be custom-made, will bear an individual number, and will be delivered with a certificate of authenticity.
Immediately after the final, the captain and the coach of the winning team will receive provisional rings to commemorate the occasion. The 30 final pieces will be personalized and delivered later.
FIFA released images and general details of the design before the final. One side showcases the World Cup trophy, while the other will be personalized with the identity of the champion team.
The authorized portal for their commercialization promotes reservations with a deposit of $1,200 and offers versions with prices starting at $12,000. These amounts correspond to the pieces offered to fans, not necessarily the value of the rings awarded to the champions.
The presentation of rings is common in American competitions such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, where these pieces have become distinctive symbols of the championship teams.
The Spanish newspaper AS estimated that a piece could reach a value of up to 130,000 euros depending on its materials, gemstones, and exclusivity. However, this is a journalistic assessment that has not been confirmed by FIFA or the manufacturer.
The rings are added to the monetary prize awarded to the champion team. Following an update approved in April, FIFA increased the total distribution to 871 million dollars among the 48 participating federations, including payments for preparation, qualification, and sporting performance.
FIFA has not announced whether it will continue this tradition in future World Cups, so the rings for 2026 may remain an exceptional feature in the history of the tournament.
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