FIFA adds championship rings for World Cup winners
Spain or Argentina will receive 30 custom rings after Sunday’s final, adding a North American sports tradition to FIFA’s top event.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
FIFA will give championship rings to the winners of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, adding a North American-style award to football’s biggest match. The governing body confirmed the plan Friday, Reuters reported, saying the rings will come on top of the trophy and gold medals.
FIFA said 30 custom rings will be awarded to the winning team after Sunday’s final at New York New Jersey Stadium. The captain and head coach will first receive temporary versions immediately after the match, according to FIFA.
The final rings will be tailored to the winning side and fitted for individual recipients before being handed over later. FIFA said one side of each ring will show the World Cup trophy, while the other side will include details tied to the champions.
The rings are also part of a wider commercial release. Reuters reported that the players’ rings will be included in a limited run of 2,026 numbered pieces, with the other 1,996 to be sold worldwide to fans as officially licensed products.
A North American sports tradition reaches FIFA
Championship rings are common in major North American leagues, including the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball and NHL. Reuters reported that FIFA has not previously awarded them at one of its competitions.
The decision arrives during a World Cup in which FIFA has adopted presentation elements more familiar to U.S. sports audiences. Reuters reported that Sunday’s final will also include a major halftime entertainment show, a format widely associated with the Super Bowl.
The tournament has also used mandatory hydration breaks, splitting play into additional stoppages beyond the standard halftime interval. Reuters reported that the three-minute pauses have taken place around the 22nd and 67th minutes of matches, even when conditions did not strictly require them.
FIFA has defended the hydration policy as a player-welfare measure during the heat and humidity of the North American summer, according to Reuters. The breaks have still drawn criticism from players, coaches and fans who say they interrupt matches and give teams extra chances to regroup.
Critics also say the stoppages function like additional tactical timeouts for coaches, Reuters reported. The pauses have created mid-half slots for commercials, though FIFA has rejected claims that advertising drove the policy.
Spain and Argentina will now play for the World Cup trophy, gold medals and the newly introduced rings. FIFA’s move gives the winning team another keepsake while extending a sports tradition long linked to North American champions.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.