FIFA to award Super Bowl-style rings to World Cup winners as Trump prepares to present trophy

FIFA will present the winners of Sunday’s World Cup final with Super Bowl-style rings, as Donald Trump prepares to hand over the trophy at MetLife Stadium in what will be his first and only appearance at the tournament.

Thirty rings will be made available to the victorious team — either Argentina or Spain — with a further 1,996 limited-edition versions going on sale to the public. Each ring will feature a miniature World Cup trophy in its design and a personalised engraving on the band, customised to reflect the culture of the winning country.

The winning captain and head coach will receive temporary rings immediately after the final whistle to mark the occasion, before the full set of 30 custom-fitted rings are produced and delivered at a later date. Winner rings are a long-standing tradition in North American sport, with NBA champions among those who receive the jewelled accessory alongside their title.

Trump’s presence at the final marks his first attendance at any match during the tournament, having been absent for every United States game — including their run to the quarter-finals, which ended in defeat to Belgium. The US national anthem will be played before kick-off, continuing an American sporting tradition despite neither team in the final representing the host nation.

Trump’s involvement in the tournament has not been without controversy. He publicly admitted to calling FIFA president Gianni Infantino — with whom he has a well-documented close relationship — to lobby for a review of US striker Folarin Balogun’s red card. FIFA subsequently suspended the ban by citing a little-known clause in its regulations, making Balogun available for the Belgium match. The decision drew widespread criticism and raised serious questions about political interference and sporting integrity.