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FIFA to award championship rings to 2026 World Cup winners, a first for football
via Le Matin1 min read
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will introduce championship rings for the winning team, a tradition inspired by American sports. FIFA announced a limited collection of 2,026 individually numbered rings will be produced. Thirty of these rings will be allocated to the champion team, while the remaining 1,996 will be sold as official licensed products for fans. Each ring will feature the FIFA World Cup trophy on one side and be customized with the colors of the victorious national team on the other. The rings will be custom-made, individually numbered, and come with a certificate of authenticity. Immediately after the final whistle, the captain and coach of the winning team will receive temporary rings as mementos. The 30 definitive rings for the champions will then be personalized and officially presented to ensure a proper fit for each recipient. FIFA has not disclosed the materials or value of the rings. However, according to the Spanish newspaper AS, the rings are expected to be made of 14 to 18-carat yellow gold, set with diamonds and other precious stones like rubies or sapphires. AS estimates their value could reach approximately 130,000 euros per ring, noting this is an estimation and not a figure provided by FIFA.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
Must ReadUganda has initiated a project for a single travel permit for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations CAN, allowing free movement within the three host countries without separate visas. This measure aims to simplify cross-border travel and boost tourism in the region before, during, and after the competition. The 2027 CAN, themed "Pamoja" together in Swahili, marks a first for East Africa. The Confederation of African Football CAF estimates over 1.5 million traveling supporters and a global television audience of nearly 3.2 billion viewers. The "CAN visa" project draws inspiration from the East African tourist visa launched in 2014 by Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, which is valid for 90 days and costs $100. Authorities plan to temporarily extend this model to the three 2027 CAN host countries, testing a mechanism that could inform a future regional free movement policy within the East African Community EAC. The three co-organizers have until December 31, 2026, to complete stadium and transport infrastructure modernization.
Moroccan companies are enhancing their cybersecurity capabilities, according to the third edition of the AUSIM猫tre, an annual barometer by PwC Morocco and the Association of Users of Information Systems in Morocco AUSIM. The report, based on a survey of 62 large enterprises and SMEs, indicates increased involvement from leadership and better-structured investments. The overall cyber maturity index has reached 56%, moving from an "In Development" to a "Defined" level. General management involvement in cybersecurity decisions is now at 74%, up from 55% a year prior, and 56% of companies allocate over 5% of their IT budget to cybersecurity, aligning with international standards. This suggests cybersecurity is becoming a strategic priority for executive committees, supported by national regulatory frameworks like Law 05-20 and DGSSI directives. Despite these advancements, the study identifies critical systemic vulnerabilities, termed "asymptomatic risks," which are low-visibility short-term threats with potential for long-term, irreversible effects. Three critical blind spots are highlighted: the insufficient governance of artificial intelligence, leading to "Shadow AI"; dependence on the cloud without formalized reversibility plans; and the insufficiently anticipated consequences of quantum threats. A growing shortage of talent further hinders innovation and cyber resilience for Moroccan organizations. Mohamed Saad, President of AUSIM, notes that while governance has evolved, ch
Morocco has been identified as one of the top 25 global offshoring destinations ready to integrate artificial intelligence into their services. The country secured the 19th position worldwide with a score of 43.35 out of 100. This places Morocco as the fifth-best prepared country in Africa and the second in the MENA region for AI integration in offshoring.