Championship rings, whether they appeal to you or not, are no longer an American-only tradition. For years now, European football has also had players marking their greatest achievements with personalised rings, just like champions from the NHL, NBA, MLB and NFL. Now FIFA is bringing that custom to the World Cup. The members of the 2026 winning squad — Spain or Argentina — will receive a personalised ring featuring the trophy and a reference to their national team. Shortly after the final, only the captain and the head coach of the winning side will receive a symbolic version. Later, a ceremony will be held to present another 30 “official” rings, made for the rest of the squad and celebrating the victory at MetLife Stadium. Alongside those 30 pieces, FIFA will produce another 1,996 rings available under licence as official merchandise. Each one, including those made for supporters, will carry a unique number, be produced to order and arrive with its own certificate of authenticity.
Another World Cup tradition, perhaps. Another piece of the tournament to be turned into a product. The other symbols of victory — the trophy itself and the gold medals — have never been sold, at least not directly by FIFA. The idea comes from American professional sport, where athletes have been celebrating championships with rings for more than a century. The first example dates back to 1893, when the players of the Montreal Hockey Club, winners of the first NHL championship, bought rings after the Stanley Cup was stolen. With football’s global reach, and with the World Cup returning only every four years, it is easy to imagine these rings becoming objects of desire in their own right. The kind of thing that, long after the final whistle, still carries the memory of a victory.