FIFA is introducing a new tradition for the 2026 World Cup: championship rings for the winning team, a custom long associated with North American sports leagues. The rings will be awarded alongside the trophy and gold medals after Sunday’s final between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium. Main Developments Thirty bespoke rings will be presented to the winning team, with the captain and head coach receiving temporary versions immediately after the match. The rings will later be customised to reflect the identity of the champions and individually fitted before a formal presentation. One side of each ring will feature the World Cup trophy, while the other will carry details specific to the winning team. The players’ rings are part of a limited edition of 2,026 individually numbered pieces, with the remaining 1,996 rings made available for sale to fans worldwide as officially licensed products. Read also: Why Argentine Superstition Is a World Cup Weapon Background Championship rings are a long-standing tradition in major North American sports, including the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball, and NHL, but have never been awarded at a FIFA competition until now. Their introduction caps a tournament in which FIFA has increasingly reshaped the presentation and rhythm of soccer to mirror American sport. Sunday’s final will also feature a major halftime entertainment show, a concept more common to the Super Bowl than the World Cup. Additionally, mandatory hydration breaks around the 22nd and 67th minutes have effectively divided matches into quarters, regardless of weather conditions. Why It Matters FIFA’s push to Americanise its flagship tournament has drawn criticism from players, coaches, and fans who argue that the hydration breaks disrupt match flow, give teams extra opportunities to regroup, and hand coaches two additional tactical timeouts. The breaks have also created mid-half commercial windows, though FIFA denies they were introduced with advertising in mind. The introduction of championship rings further signals the governing body’s willingness to adopt elements of North American sports culture. What's Next The winning team will receive temporary rings immediately after the final, with customised, individually fitted rings delivered later. Fans can purchase the remaining 1,996 numbered rings as officially licensed products. The long-term impact of these changes on soccer’s global traditions remains an open question.