The winners of Sunday's World Cup final will be presented with Super Bowl-style championship rings for the first time in the tournament's history. FIFA revealed on Friday that it has produced "bespoke championship rings," with 30 to be awarded to the victorious squad after the match in New Jersey.
Each ring will feature an image of the golden World Cup trophy on one side. The opposing side will be customized to "reflect the identity of the winning team" after the final, according to the sport's governing body. A total of 2,026 rings have been manufactured, with 1,996 designated for sale to fans.
The tradition of awarding championship rings is prominent in American sports, most notably with the Super Bowl, where the winning team receives diamond-encrusted rings. FIFA stated that each World Cup ring will be individually numbered, custom-fitted, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. The winning team's captain and head coach will receive temporary rings immediately after the final, with the 30 official rings to be customized and presented at a later date.
President Donald Trump is confirmed to be in attendance at the MetLife Stadium for the final between Argentina and Spain. This will be the first World Cup match he has attended this summer, though his presence at the final had been widely anticipated. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has not confirmed or denied rumors that Trump might present the trophy to the winning team, a role often filled by heads of state.
Past World Cup finals have seen heads of state involved in the trophy presentation. Notably, the Emir of Qatar joined FIFA President Gianni Infantino on stage after Argentina's victory in the last World Cup. Four years prior, Vladimir Putin presented medals to France's victorious players. Trump's involvement in sports award ceremonies has drawn attention, including an instance at the Club World Cup where his presence alongside players during celebrations caused confusion.
Trump traveled from Washington to New York for the event and is scheduled to attend a FIFA reception at Trump Tower. The relationship between Trump and Infantino has been a subject of discussion during the World Cup. Earlier in the tournament, Trump had requested a review of a red card issued to U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, which led to the suspension being overturned. The U.S. team was eliminated from the tournament the day after the overturned suspension, following a match against Belgium.