There has been another development at this summer’s World Cup, which has not gone down well with Europeans.
After weeks of soccer, the World Cup comes to a conclusion this weekend, with the bronze medal game to be played on Saturday and the final on Sunday.
It has been a real sight to behold across the three host nations and offered many an opportunity to take in soccer at the highest level.
The defending world champions will face the reigning European champions in the World Cup final. Who will win and why?
That is not to say the tournament has run without any bumps in the road, given the controversy surrounding President Donald Trump and FIFA just a matter of weeks ago.
The USA has certainly put its own spin on certain aspects of the World Cup and Sunday’s winners will experience that first hand.
Players of the eventual tournament winners are going to be provided with champions rings, which has not gone down well with European soccer fans.
World Cup champions rings set to be issued to Sunday’s winners
It has now been confirmed by BBC Sport that 30 winners rings have been made available to whichever side comes out on top on Sunday.
Interestingly, another 1,996 will go on sale to supporters across the world in yet another money-making scheme from FIFA.
Trump will be handing out the World Cup trophy to the winners on Sunday in the game at MetLife Stadium.
All of this has left soccer fans in Europe frustrated with the Americanization of ‘their’ game.
What European soccer fans have said about the World Cup winners rings
Winners typically receive a medal when they win the World Cup, but this year will see a new offering to either Spain or Argentina’s players.
‘They’ve basically turned this World Cup into the Super Bowl,’ said one fan on X.
‘Don’t let the US host the World Cup for the next 300 years. Otherwise, they’ll force players to play with their hands and use an egg-shaped ball next time,’ responded another.
Some Europeans have loved their trips to United States for the World Cup, but it is apparent that this may be a step too far for some.
One fan was really not impressed, they said: ‘Nonsense, just want to implement their sport traditions on football by force.’
‘Quarters , half hour half time , now the rings . It’s football, not American football. Games gone,’ said another.
The hydration breaks have been hugely controversial at the World Cup, with many – like the fan above – believing it was turning soccer into a four-quarter game.
‘Horrendous. Absolutely horrendous. Why is FIFA so in thrall to US sport? Whatever happened to “show us your medals”? No one’s saying “show us your rings”!’ added another European.
Another very simply said: ‘Can we stop Americanizing this sport’.
It will be intriguing to see how well the rings are received by the winning players on Sunday.
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