FIFA will award World Cup rings to the champions of Sunday’s final featuring Argentina and Spain, with Donald Trump in attendance.
Winner rings are a tradition in American sports, awarded to the champions of the NFL’s Super Bowl.
Thirty rings will be provided to the world champions, and an additional 1,996 rings will be offered for sale to fans.
Each ring will feature a small World Cup trophy within its design along with an engraving on the band.
President Trump, set to award the trophy, has not been present at any of the 102 World Cup matches thus far, missing all of the USA’s games before their exit against Belgium in the round of 16.
A weather alert has been issued in New York regarding air quality due to wildfires in Canada, yet there is no indication the game at MetLife Stadium will be impacted.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino previously stated that Trump would be at the final, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has verified his attendance.
The connection between Infantino and Trump has been central to the most significant controversy of this summer’s World Cup, as the US president contacted the FIFA leader to request a reassessment of United States striker Folarin Balogun’s red card.
The later choice to lift Balogun’s automatic ban faced significant backlash, prompting concerns regarding the tournament’s integrity.
Balogun was permitted to play in the elimination match against Belgium, but the USA endured a 4-1 defeat.
No additional red or yellow cards have been suspended in this World Cup, even though France and England requested reviews of their own incidents.
Trump has a track record of participating in major sporting events, being present at the Super Bowl, the US Open tennis championship, the NBA finals, the Ryder Cup, and welcoming the UFC to the White House during his two terms as president.
It is common for heads of state in host nations to be present at World Cup finals.
The tournament has been co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, with the last two matches—airing live on the BBC—held in America.
England faces France in Miami at 22:00 BST on Saturday for the third-place match, while Argentina takes on Spain at 20:00 on Sunday.
