FIFA will introduce a new tradition at the 2026 World Cup by presenting championship rings to the winners of Sunday's final between Argentina and Spain, with US President Donald Trump confirmed to attend the showpiece event at MetLife Stadium.
Championship rings have long been a staple of American sports, particularly in the NFL, where Super Bowl winners receive commemorative jewellery to celebrate their triumph.
For the World Cup, 30 rings will be awarded to the victorious squad, while an additional 1,996 commemorative rings will be made available for fans to purchase. Each ring will feature a miniature World Cup trophy and a personalised engraving inside the band.
Trump is expected to present the World Cup trophy after the final. Although he has not attended any of the tournament's 102 matches, including the United States' last-16 defeat to Belgium, FIFA president Gianni Infantino had previously announced his attendance, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirming the visit.
The final comes despite air quality warnings issued in the New York area due to smoke drifting from Canadian wildfires. However, there is currently no indication that conditions will affect Sunday's match.
Trump's relationship with Infantino has been one of the tournament's most talked-about storylines after the US president contacted the FIFA chief to seek a review of Folarin Balogun's controversial red card.
FIFA's subsequent decision to suspend Balogun's automatic one-match ban drew widespread criticism, with concerns raised over the tournament's integrity. The United States striker returned for the knockout clash against Belgium, but the hosts were eliminated following a 4-1 defeat.
No other yellow or red card suspensions have been overturned during the tournament, despite appeals from both France and England over separate disciplinary incidents.
Trump has regularly attended major sporting occasions during his presidency, including the Super Bowl, US Open, NBA Finals, Ryder Cup, and UFC events hosted at the White House. It is also common for heads of state from host nations to attend World Cup finals.
The United States has co-hosted the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, with the tournament's final two matches taking place on American soil.
Before Sunday's final, England face France in the third-place play-off in Miami on Saturday, before Argentina and Spain battle for the World Cup title at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
