FIFA President Gianni Infantino embraced U.S. sports traditions and handed out championship rings to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Champions: Spain.
Championship teams in American sports leagues often receive ornate rings to commemorate their championship wins.
The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, brought that tradition to the grandest football tournament for the first time, with Spain receiving their rings after their awards ceremony.
FIFA President hands out Spain’s rings in private dressing room ceremony
The traditional awards ceremony stuck to traditions with individual awards, medals to the winning team, and a trophy-lifting moment, with the new championship rings being distributed in the dressing room.
FIFA have made 2,026 versions of the ring, with 1,996 fan editions of the ring being sold as limited memorabilia from this year’s tournament.
It’s unclear if this will become a new tradition in FIFA, but it might have some staying power.
Spain’s players also received individual World Cup replicas made of LEGO as a prize for winning the tournament, so this national team will go back well-awarded for an incredible win.
What are the 2026 World Cup championship rings made of?
With the fan-made editions selling for $2,000, it’s unclear if they’re the same as the 30 rings Spain received for winning the tournament.
It’s not been revealed what exactly the ring is made of but it appears to be made of gold with blue sapphires and diamonds on it.
Championship rings in the NBA or NFL tend to be far more valuable, with elaborate designs to make an ostentatiously large and luxurious ring with diamonds and gold.
With these rings usually being handed at the start of next season instead of immediately after a title win, they’re customized to the specific players on the team and built in the team’s colors.
FIFA’s way of doing it wasn’t as grand, so Spain took home a ring that has blue in the middle instead of the red that represents their nation.
Nonetheless, it’s a cherished prize for the players who received it and will likely be treasured for the rest of their careers.
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