Thirty gold rings, each engraved with a miniature World Cup trophy and the name of the winning nation, will be slipped onto the fingers of the Argentina or Spain squad on Sunday – a tradition borrowed from American sport, and one that has put the trophy presentation itself at the centre of controversy. For the first time, Fifa is awarding World Cup rings to the champions, replicating the iconic Super Bowl rings given to NFL winners. And presenting the trophy will be Donald Trump, the US president, whose relationship with Fifa president Gianni Infantino has raised questions about the integrity of the tournament after he intervened to overturn a red card for US striker Folarin Balogun.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, concludes on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The final between Argentina and Spain will be attended by President Trump, who will hand the trophy to the winning captain. This is not unusual – heads of state of host nations often present trophies at major finals. But Trump has not attended any of the 102 previous World Cup games, including those featuring the US men's team, who were eliminated in the last 16 by Belgium. His absence has drawn criticism, with reports suggesting White House officials feared crowd chants about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump has a history of attending major sporting events – the Super Bowl, US Open tennis, NBA finals and the Ryder Cup – but only after the US team's elimination did he confirm his appearance at the final.
“Explains the new World Cup rings tradition, Trump's role, and the controversy.”
The introduction of World Cup rings is a direct import from American professional sports, particularly the NFL, where Super Bowl winners have been presented with rings since the 1960s. Fifa will produce 30 rings for the champions, and a further 1,996 rings will be sold to fans. Each ring includes a mini World Cup trophy in its design and an engraving in the band. The tradition has no precedent in football, and the move has been seen as a way to appeal to American audiences. The rings are separate from the winners' medals and the World Cup trophy itself.
For UK readers, the main points of interest are the cultural clash between football traditions and American sporting pageantry, and the broader questions about Trump's involvement in a tournament that has already been clouded by the Balogun suspension. The US striker was sent off in the group stage, but Trump called Infantino to seek a review, and the suspension was subsequently overturned – a decision that was heavily criticised. No other red or yellow cards were suspended during the tournament, despite appeals from France and England. England's third-place match against France takes place on Saturday in Miami, with both matches live on the BBC.
Q: What are the World Cup rings? The rings are a new tradition introduced by Fifa for the 2026 World Cup. Thirty rings will be given to the winning team, and 1,996 replicas will be sold to fans. They are inspired by Super Bowl rings in American football. Each ring features a miniature World Cup trophy and an engraved band.
Q: Why is Donald Trump presenting the World Cup trophy? As the president of the host nation, it is customary for the head of state to present the trophy. Trump has confirmed he will attend the final, despite missing all previous games. He has a history of attending big sporting events, including the Super Bowl and NBA finals.
Q: What is the controversy over Folarin Balogun's red card? Balogun, a US striker, was sent off during the group stage. President Trump called Fifa president Gianni Infantino to ask for a review, and the suspension was overturned, allowing Balogun to play in the knockout match against Belgium. The decision was heavily criticised as undermining tournament integrity, and no other cards were similarly suspended.
What happens next: The final between Argentina and Spain kicks off at 20:00 BST on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. England play France for third place on Saturday at 22:00 BST. The rings will be presented after the final, alongside the traditional trophy lift. The long-term impact of the rings tradition and the Trump–Infantino relationship on Fifa's governance remains to be seen.
