FIFA World Cup 2026 winners to receive championship rings for first time in tournament history
The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has been introducing a special prize alongside the iconic trophy to the winners of the FIFA 2026. However, the winners of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will honour with championship rings for the first time in the tournament’s 96-year history.
The historic initiative means the victorious team in Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain will not only lift the FIFA World Cup trophy and receive the traditional gold medals but will also become the first World Cup champions to be awarded commemorative rings.
According to FIFA, the captain and head coach of the winning team will receive temporary championship rings immediately after the final. Later, the entire title-winning squad will be presented with 30 customised rings.
Each ring will feature the FIFA World Cup trophy on one side, while the opposite side will be uniquely designed to reflect the identity of the winning nation.
FIFA said only 2,026 rings will be produced, matching the tournament year. Every ring will be individually numbered, custom-fitted and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
The remaining 1,996 rings, which will not be allocated to the champions, will be made available for public purchase.
Championship rings have long been associated with professional sports in North America but have rarely been awarded in international football.
The tradition dates back to the late 19th century and is believed to have started in 1893 when the Montreal Hockey Club received commemorative rings after winning the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, the predecessor to the Stanley Cup.
Major League Baseball teams began presenting championship rings in the 1920s, while the NBA and NFL have continued the practice for decades. Rings are also awarded in several other American sporting competitions, including college athletics and Olympic and Paralympic programmes.
With the 2026 World Cup being hosted in the United States, FIFA’s decision is widely seen as a tribute to that long-standing sporting tradition.