FIFA is set to introduce a brand-new tradition at the World Cup 2026 final, with the champions of Sunday's showdown between Argentina and Spain set to receive commemorative rings — a ceremony US President Donald Trump is expected to attend.

A new tradition borrowed from American sport

Winner's rings are a deeply embedded ritual in American sports culture, most famously associated with NFL Super Bowl champions. FIFA has now embraced the concept for the sport's grandest stage.

According to the BBC, the world champions will be presented with 30 rings, while a further 1,996 commemorative rings will be made available for supporters to purchase. Each ring will carry a miniature World Cup trophy and a personalised engraving on the band.

Trump set to present the trophy

President Trump is expected to hand over the trophy at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, despite having attended none of the tournament's 102 matches — including all of the United States' games before their Round of 16 exit at the hands of Belgium.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino had already confirmed Trump's attendance before White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made it official from the administration's side. An air quality alert is currently in place over New York due to wildfires in Canada, though there is no indication the final will be disrupted.

The Infantino-Trump relationship under scrutiny

The connection between Infantino and Trump has cast a long shadow over the tournament. The US president reportedly contacted the FIFA president to push for a review of the red card shown to United States forward Folarin Balogun.

The subsequent overturning of Balogun's automatic suspension drew sharp criticism and raised serious questions about the integrity of the competition. Balogun went on to play in the knockout stage against Belgium — a match the USA lost 4-1.

No other suspensions triggered by red or yellow cards have been reversed during the tournament, despite formal requests from France and England for their respective cases to be reconsidered.

Argentina and Spain prepare for the final

Trump is no stranger to high-profile sporting occasions. During his two presidential terms, he has attended the FIFA Club World Cup, the Super Bowl, the US Open tennis championships, the NBA Finals, and the Ryder Cup, and has hosted UFC events at the White House.

It is not uncommon for heads of state from host nations to be present at World Cup finals. The 2026 tournament is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the two final matches staged on US soil.

Before the grand finale, England meet France in the third-place play-off in Miami on Saturday. Then on Sunday, Argentina face Spain at MetLife Stadium in what promises to be a historic World Cup 2026 final.