FIFA has announced that World Cup rings will be awarded to the champions of the final match between Argentina and Spain, scheduled for Sunday. The event will also see the attendance of former President Donald Trump, who is set to present the trophy.

World Cup Rings Tradition

This year, a total of thirty rings will be given to the winning team, while an additional 1,996 rings will be available for purchase by fans. Each ring will feature a mini World Cup trophy in its design along with an engraving on the band. The tradition of presenting rings to champions is well-established in American sports, particularly in the NFL, where Super Bowl winners receive similar honors.

Trump's Attendance and Controversy

Despite not attending any of the previous 102 World Cup matches, Trump’s presence at the final has been confirmed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Trump's relationship with Infantino has been under scrutiny, especially following a controversial decision regarding the suspension of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun's red card. This decision, which allowed Balogun to play in the knockout game against Belgium, faced significant criticism, raising questions about the tournament's integrity.

As the tournament progresses, the final match will take place at MetLife Stadium, with no indications that the ongoing air quality issues in New York due to Canadian wildfires will impact the event. The USA, co-hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico, has seen the final games played on American soil, with the third-place match between England and France taking place in Miami. Both matches will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.