In a landmark move that will add a new layer of prestige to football’s biggest tournament, FIFA has announced that the winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will receive championship rings for the first time in the competition’s history.

The historic honour will be introduced when Spain and Argentina face off in the World Cup final on Sunday at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

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In addition to lifting the iconic FIFA World Cup trophy and receiving the traditional gold medals, the victorious team will also be awarded specially designed championship rings, marking a first for any FIFA tournament.

The introduction of the rings brings one of North America’s most celebrated sporting traditions into global football, creating a unique keepsake to commemorate the champions’ achievement.

To mark the 2026 tournament, FIFA has produced 2,026 individually numbered championship rings.

Of these, 30 have been reserved exclusively for members of the title-winning team, while the remaining 1,996 will be released as officially licensed collectibles for fans across the world.

Each ring has been designed with the FIFA World Cup trophy engraved on one side, while the opposite side will be personalised to reflect the identity of the tournament winners. Every ring will also be individually numbered, custom-fitted to its recipient and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

According to FIFA, the winning team’s captain and head coach will receive temporary championship rings during the on-field celebrations immediately after the final on July 19.

The permanent rings will then be custom-made to ensure a perfect fit before being formally presented to the players and technical staff at a later ceremony.

Sunday’s final between Spain and Argentina will not only determine the next world champions but will also crown the first team in FIFA history to receive championship rings, adding another unforgettable chapter to football’s most prestigious competition.

Argentina could face disciplinary action from FIFA after several players displayed a politically charged banner following their dramatic 2-1 victory over England in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The reigning world champions booked their place in Sunday’s final against Spain after staging a late comeback in Atlanta, with Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez scoring decisive goals to seal the win.

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However, celebrations after the final whistle quickly turned controversial when a group of Argentine players unveiled a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentine”), a slogan linked to Argentina’s long-standing claim over the Falkland Islands.
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he display has sparked concerns that FIFA could sanction the Argentine Football Association or the players involved, as the governing body strictly prohibits political messages during official competitions.

The Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, have remained at the centre of a sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom for decades.

The disagreement culminated in the 1982 Falklands War, which claimed the lives of hundreds of Argentine and British military personnel.

Argentina has previously been punished over the same issue. In 2014, FIFA fined the Argentine Football Association £20,000 after the national team displayed an identical banner before an international friendly against Slovenia, ruling that it breached regulations on political messaging and team misconduct.

The controversy deepened after Argentina’s Vice President, Victoria Villarruel, reacted to the victory on X, writing, “It wasn’t just another match.”

She added, “The Falklands are Argentine. They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts.”

Before the semi-final, Villarruel had also described the clash with England as “about putting the invaders in their place,” comments that further heightened political tensions surrounding the fixture.

Argentina’s players had already drawn attention earlier in the tournament after their Round of 16 victory over Egypt, when they reportedly sang chants referencing the Falkland Islands alongside tributes to football legends Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi.

Despite the growing controversy, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni urged that football should remain separate from politics.

“The reality is that this is a football match. I can’t mix things up, especially out of respect for what happened so many years ago,” Scaloni said.

He added “It was a very sad period in our history, and there isn’t much we can do about it. We certainly remember those people, but it is a football match. We shouldn’t confuse the two.”

FIFA has yet to announce whether it will open formal disciplinary proceedings against Argentina over the post-match celebrations, but the incident has overshadowed the team’s march into the World Cup final against Spain.

FIFA’s Head of Refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, has firmly defended the integrity and independence of match officials at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, dismissing allegations of bias following Argentina’s controversial 3-2 victory over Egypt in the Round of 16.

The governing body responded after the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) and head coach Hossam Hassan questioned several refereeing decisions that proved decisive in Tuesday’s dramatic encounter, with Egypt accusing officials of applying double standards.

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The North Africans looked set for a famous victory after racing into a two-goal lead before defending champions Argentina staged a stunning comeback, capped by Enzo Fernandez’s stoppage-time winner to book a place in the quarter-finals.

Following the defeat, Hassan suggested there may have been pressure to ensure Lionel Messi and Argentina remained in the tournament, while the EFA formally called on FIFA to investigate what it described as inconsistent officiating.

Reacting to the claims, Collina insisted that while football welcomes debate over refereeing decisions, questioning the integrity of match officials is unacceptable.

“Constructive discussion about decisions will always be part of football, but unfounded allegations have no place in our sport,” Collina said.

He warned that such accusations could expose referees and their families to abuse and threats.

“Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials. When this happens, it may provoke reactions that lead to threats against them and their families. This is not right,” he added.

The former Italian referee also dismissed suggestions that FIFA’s refereeing department could be influenced by senior officials, including FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

According to Collina, referees operate independently and are trusted to make honest decisions without interference.

Addressing Egypt’s complaints, Collina explained that VAR correctly ruled out Mostafa Zico’s goal because of an earlier foul by Marwan Attia during the attacking phase.

He also defended the decision not to award Mohamed Salah a foul in the build-up to Argentina’s winning goal, saying both the referee and VAR agreed it was “normal football contact” after Julian Alvarez had first played the ball.

Although he acknowledged that some decisions will always involve an element of subjectivity, Collina expressed confidence in the application of VAR throughout the tournament.

Argentina will now continue their title defence in the quarter-finals, while Egypt exits the competition still frustrated by the officiating decisions that overshadowed an enthralling Round of 16 clash.