The 2026 FIFA World Cup comes to an end this Sunday following weeks of grueling matches and controversy surrounding the USMNT and Donald Trump’s association with Gianni Infantino.
FIFA has now unveiled NBA-style rings for whichever nation emerges as champion on Sunday, when Argentina and Spain meet, with Infantino previously revealing that they will jointly present the trophy to the winning team.
World Cup Winners Will Receive ‘Champions Ring’
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final between heavyweights Spain and Argentina is set to receive a massive dose of American-style sports culture.
For the first time in World Cup history, FIFA has announced that 30 members of the winning team at Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium will be presented with commemorative championship rings similar to those awarded to NFL and NBA champions.
Each ring will feature a scaled-down replica of the iconic FIFA World Cup trophy embedded in its design, complete with custom engraving inside the band.
The players’ rings will form part of a limited edition of 2,026 individually numbered pieces. The remaining 1,996 replica rings will be made available for sale to fans worldwide as officially licensed products.
Fans Call Out The ‘Americanization’ Of FIFA World Cup
Meanwhile, several fans have taken to social media to criticize what they perceive as the growing encroachment of American culture on world football.
Not only will the winners receive championship rings, as is customary at some of the country’s biggest sporting events, but the final is also expected to feature an extended halftime show similar to the Super Bowl.
Adding to the changes seen at this year’s World Cup, FIFA introduced three-minute hydration breaks midway through each 45-minute half of every match.
“Day by day our beautiful game is getting ruined,” a sports fan wrote on X, while another added, “This is no longer football but whatever they call it in the USA.”
“Football doesn’t need to copy American sports to celebrate greatness. The World Cup trophy has always been enough,” someone else penned.
“We’ve literally let America change the World Cup into an American-style sport. The line should have been drawn at drinks breaks, which we all know are there 1/4s. Halftime show as well …. Is this the Super Bowl?” one user quizzed.
Trump To Attend Sunday’s World Cup Showdown
The White House has officially confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump will attend Sunday’s final and is expected to help hand over the trophy to the winning nation.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the president will be in New York City on Friday to attend a FIFA VIP reception at Trump Tower in Manhattan before attending Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
“His attendance will cap what has been the most-watched, most secure and most successful World Cup in American history,” Leavitt said, per Reuters.
Trump has a history of attending major sporting events, having previously appeared at the Super Bowl, the U.S. Open tennis tournament, the Ryder Cup, and the Daytona 500.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had long hinted at his appearance, noting that they would jointly present the trophy.
“We will be together with the president, enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together,” Infantino said, per Fox News.
The appearance will mark Trump’s first live match attendance of the 104-game tournament, having bypassed the group stage and earlier knockout fixtures before the United States’ round-of-16 exit.
Trump And Infantino Raised Eyebrows During The Competition
Trump’s appearance at the game will likely draw further scrutiny following the controversy involving Infantino and the red card shown to USMNT star striker Folarin Balogun.
Their relationship has become a lightning rod for debate, especially after Trump confirmed he called the FIFA boss to request a review of the punishment, which would have seen Balogun miss the game against Belgium due to suspension. FIFA later converted the ban into a suspended sentence, allowing him to play in the match, which the Americans subsequently lost 4-1.
Infantino is now facing renewed questions about his integrity after London-based sports and human rights watchdog FairSquare accused him of violating the sport’s strict political neutrality codes in a complaint to the International Olympic Committee’s Ethics Commission.
“Gianni Infantino has repeatedly breached the IOC’s rules on political neutrality by offering his political support for the President of the United States, Donald Trump,” FairSquare said in a statement.
“As outlined below, the evidence suggests that Mr Infantino has committed five clear breaches of IOC rules on political neutrality through statements or other clear expressions of support for the US President,” the group added.
Sunday’s Winner To Take Home $50 Million
This year’s edition, hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, has been the biggest World Cup in the tournament’s history.
More countries took part in the competition after the governing body expanded the format to 48 teams playing 104 matches in total, with Infantino previously predicting that it could attract more than 40 million visitors across the three host countries.
According to FIFA, a record $655 million was allocated as performance-based prize money, representing a 50% increase from the previous edition in Qatar. The winning federation will receive $50 million, while the runner-up will earn $33 million.
FIFA generated approximately $7.6 billion during the four-year commercial cycle that ended with the 2022 tournament but projected revenue of about $13 billion for the 2023–2026 cycle.
The governing body’s income mainly comes from broadcasting, licensing and hospitality rights, sponsorship agreements, and ticket sales.
The FIFA Unveils NBA-Style Rings For World Cup Winners first appeared on The Blast
