Borrowing from an American sporting tradition, the winners of the World Cup will earn an extra prize this year: A championship ring — the first one awarded in World Cup history.
The players from either Argentina or Spain also will receive the traditional gold medals. The championship match is set for 3 p.m. ET Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
FIFA announced the distribution of the “bespoke” rings and said in a statement that the gesture is “bringing one of the most recognisable American sporting traditions to the global game.”
The rings already have been designed to display the World Cup trophy on one side, with the other side to be customized for the winning team. After the final on Sunday, the head coach and captain of the winning team will be given a temporary ring to be replaced after the final ring is designed and created. The rest of the team will be presented with rings at a later date.
Only 2,026 numbered rings will be created, with 30 given to the winning team. The remainder will be sold to the public, with the price not announced.
If Argentina wins Sunday, they will become the first country to capture back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962. Spain have won once, in 2010.
England and France play Saturday to determine the third-place finisher.
