FIFA introduces championship rings for World Cup winners in historic first | Details inside

The champions of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will walk away with more than just football's biggest prize. For the first time in the tournament's history, FIFA has introduced championship rings, adding a new tradition to the celebrations after the final.

The rings will be awarded alongside the FIFA World Cup trophy and the customary gold medals when the tournament concludes on Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium, where Spain face defending champions Argentina.

FIFA revealed that one side of every ring will feature the FIFA World Cup Trophy, while the reverse will be personalised with the identity of the winning nation. Immediately after the final whistle, the winning team's captain and head coach will receive temporary rings. The permanent versions will be custom-made, individually numbered and delivered later with certificates of authenticity.

In all, FIFA has produced 2,026 championship rings to mark the 2026 tournament. Thirty rings have been reserved for the winning team, while the remaining 1,996 will be released as officially licensed collectibles for fans.

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Championship rings have long been associated with major North American sports, where they are presented to title-winning teams as lasting keepsakes. FIFA said this is the first time the tradition will be introduced at one of its competitions.

The announcement comes ahead of Sunday's World Cup final and follows another recent proposal from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who said the idea of expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams would be reviewed after the 2026 tournament.