Fans upset as FIFA reveals a brand-new prize for every World Cup 2026 winner
FIFA has some exciting news for the World Cup winners after Sunday’s big final—a prize that’s never been given before!
On July 19, Spain and Argentina will face off in the 24th World Cup final. Argentina will try to keep their title after winning the tournament in Qatar last year. The match will be held at the famous MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey, with over 80,000 fans, celebrities, and even former US President Trump attending. Trump will have the honor of handing the trophy to the champions.
The players will be focused on winning football’s biggest prize, and Lionel Messi will be aiming to win the World Cup Golden Boot for the first time, even though he already holds the record for most goals scored at World Cups with 21.
The winning country’s football federation will get about £38 million in prize money, while the second-place team will receive £24.5 million. Third place gets £21.5 million, and fourth place will receive £20 million. All 48 teams in the tournament will get a souvenir plaque, and the top three teams will earn diplomas. There’s also a FIFA Fair Play Award, which comes with $50,000 (£37,000) to support a football-related social project in the winning country.
Ahead of the final, FIFA revealed they will give the champions something special—championship rings! This is the first time rings will be handed out. Thirty rings will go to the winning team, and nearly 2,000 more will be available for fans worldwide.
FIFA said, “One side of the ring shows the FIFA World Cup trophy, while the other will be designed to reflect the winning team’s identity. Each ring will be numbered, custom-fitted, and come with a certificate of authenticity. Right after the final, the captain and coach will get temporary rings to celebrate. Then, the full rings will be made to fit perfectly and given later to the winners, marking an achievement that will be remembered forever.”
Fans shared their thoughts on social media about the new rings. One said, “The World Cup started in 1930, so FIFA waited 96 years to introduce rings. That shows how much the tournament is connecting with American sports culture.” Another commented, “The American-style halftime shows and rings feel weird. Why is FIFA trying so hard to get Americans interested when many don’t even follow the sport?” A third fan said, “Now the winners will have championship rings, just like in the NBA and MLB.”
In North America, championship rings are a long tradition, given to winners of the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, World Series, and Stanley Cup. Now, the World Cup winners will join that club!