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FIFA has announced that the winners of Sunday's World Cup final between Argentina and Spain will receive commemorative championship rings, adding a new tradition to football's biggest tournament. The final at MetLife Stadium will also be attended by United States President Donald Trump, who is expected to present the World Cup trophy to the victorious team.
The idea of awarding championship rings has long been associated with American sports, particularly the NFL, where Super Bowl champions receive rings to mark their success. FIFA will produce 30 rings for the members of the title-winning squad, while another 1,996 replicas will be made available for fans to purchase. Each ring will feature a miniature World Cup trophy along with a special engraving inside the band.
Trump has not attended any of the tournament's 102 matches leading up to the final, including all of the United States' fixtures before the hosts were eliminated by Belgium in the round of 16. Despite concerns over air quality in New York caused by wildfires in Canada, there has been no indication that the conditions will disrupt Sunday's showpiece event.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino had previously revealed that Trump would attend the final, and the White House later confirmed the president's plans through press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The relationship between Infantino and Trump has attracted significant attention throughout the tournament following a controversial intervention involving United States forward Folarin Balogun. Trump reportedly contacted the FIFA president to request a review of Balogun's red card, which resulted in the player's automatic suspension being lifted. The decision sparked criticism from many observers, who questioned the fairness and integrity of the competition.
Balogun was cleared to play in the knockout match against Belgium, but the United States still suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat. No other suspensions resulting from red or yellow cards have been overturned during the tournament, despite appeals from both France and England over separate disciplinary decisions.
Trump has frequently attended major sporting events throughout his time in office, including the Super Bowl, the US Open tennis championships, the NBA Finals and the Ryder Cup. He has also hosted UFC events at the White House. It is also common for heads of state from host nations to attend the World Cup final.
The United States is co-hosting this year's tournament alongside Canada and Mexico, with the final stages taking place on American soil. Sunday's clash between Argentina and Spain will decide the next world champions.
