Defending champions Argentina will face Spain in the 2026 World Cup final at the New York New Jersey stadium on 19/7. The winning team will be awarded a new symbol of glory: championship rings. This marks the first time a tradition common in American professional sports leagues will appear in a FIFA-organized tournament.

FIFA announced that the team crowned champion at the 2026 World Cup will receive championship rings for the first time in the tournament's history, alongside the Golden Cup and medals. Photo: FIFA

Each ring is part of a limited collection of 2,026 individually numbered products, inspired by the year of the tournament. Among these, 30 rings will be awarded to the champion team, while 1,996 rings will be released as officially licensed products, offering fans worldwide an opportunity to own a memento from the 2026 World Cup.

One side of the ring will feature an engraving of the World Cup Golden Cup, while the other side will be custom-designed to reflect the identity of the champion team. Each ring will have its own serial number, be crafted to the recipient's size, and come with an authentic certificate.

Immediately after the final, the captain and head coach of the champion team will receive temporary rings to mark the moment of victory. Subsequently, all 30 rings for the winning team will be customized with individual specifications before being officially presented, ensuring a perfect fit and serving as a keepsake preserving the champions' historic achievement.

FIFA's decision to integrate rings into the World Cup's reward system is seen as an adoption of a long-standing tradition in North American sports. In major professional leagues like basketball (NBA), American football (NFL), baseball (MLB), and ice hockey (NHL), champion teams not only lift a trophy but also receive commemorative rings custom-made for each member. These rings are awarded to players, coaching staff, and many club members as a keepsake of individual achievement, as the main trophy belongs solely to the team.

Unlike medals, which are presented by organizers immediately after a match, championship rings are typically designed and crafted over several months after the season concludes. Each ring bears the unique mark of the champion team, from its logo, trophy, and season achievements to the name and jersey number of each player. The NBA describes these rings as a way to tell "the story of the entire season", preserving the journey, city, and identity of the champions.

The ring ceremony is also a familiar ritual in American sports. In the NBA or NFL, teams often host a "Ring Night" just before the first game of the new season to present rings to players and coaching staff, while also raising the championship banner to the stadium roof. This event is seen as a moment to close the previous season and begin the journey of defending the title.

In addition to awarding rings to the champion team for the first time, the 2026 World Cup final will also mark another historic milestone: FIFA will host a halftime show during the final match for the first time, emulating the famous Super Bowl Halftime Show model.

The program will last approximately 11 minutes, not including stage preparation time, featuring Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, and BTS as main performers. Other participants include Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus, and characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets. The performance is produced by Global Citizen in collaboration with FIFA, with creative consultation from Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay.

According to FIFA, the Halftime Show is not just an entertainment spectacle but also aims to raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative targeting 100 million USD to expand access to education and football for children worldwide. Each ticket sold for the 2026 World Cup will contribute 1 USD to this fund.

The addition of a halftime show and a large-scale closing ceremony indicates that FIFA is incorporating many entertainment elements characteristic of American sports into the planet's biggest football festival. This marks the first World Cup with 48 participating teams, hosted across three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Hong Duy (according to FIFA)