KUCHING: When Spain and Argentina take to the pitch at New York New Jersey Stadium on Monday morning (July 20, MYT), football’s greatest prize will not be the only piece of history awaiting the victors.
For the first time in FIFA competition history, the 2026 FIFA World Cup champions will receive bespoke championship rings alongside the iconic trophy and gold medals, bringing one of North America’s most celebrated sporting traditions to the global game.
According to a FIFA statement, only 2,026 individually numbered rings will be produced in tribute to the 2026 tournament. Thirty will be reserved for the victorious team, while the remaining 1,996 will be made available to fans worldwide as official licensed products.
One side of each championship ring will feature the FIFA World Cup Trophy, while the other will be personalised to reflect the identity of the winning nation. Every ring will also be individually numbered, custom-fitted and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
Reserved exclusively for the champions, the rings will become a lasting keepsake of one of football’s greatest achievements.
The rings may be new, but the prize remains unchanged. Argentina will enter Monday’s final seeking to defend the title they won in Qatar four years ago, while Spain are bidding to become world champions once again and lift their first World Cup crown since 2010.
When the final whistle blows in New York, one nation will not only lift football’s most coveted prize but will also become the first in FIFA history to receive championship rings created exclusively for world champions.
