T-shirts, balls, scarves… Football fans will now also be able to add grass to the list of merchandising related to the World Cup. And FIFA has put “Piece of the pitch” up for sale, that is, fragments of the New York New Jersey Stadium field, where the final match will be played on July 19, which will face Spain and Argentina.
As explained by the organization, the pieces of grass will be offered permanently preserved in high-quality acrylic material that will be engraved with details of the grand final. They will be accompanied by a USB memory with what they call “authenticity film” (authenticity video); All of this is presented in an elegant varnished hinged case. From FIFA they assure that it is “a unique collector’s item celebrating one of the biggest sporting events in the world” and it is designed “for collectors, fans and football enthusiasts”.
The item has been worked on with British collectible product manufacturer KeepStub and is available through the official FIFA store for 390 euros – in its basic version – under a pre-sale model. And the grass fragments will only be sent once the tournament concludes and to the United States, United Kingdom and European markets.
However, KeepStub offers three more models of the product in its own online store. The “Stadium edition” costs 775 euros and includes a gold-engraved metal souvenir ticket, a signed certificate of authenticity and a larger case. For its part, the “Legacy edition” sells for 1,035 euros and includes a gold miniature replica of the ball that will be used in the World Cup final and a box with brief descriptions of the 2026 World Cup written inside.
Finally, the “Hero edition” is priced at $2,585 and includes a larger portion of grass, a gold replica of the World Cup ball, and a cut-glass tournament trophy, as well as a larger box.
Each of the editions has limited availability, with only 2,026 units for sale. But if FIFA is able to sell all the units, it would achieve around 10 million euros in revenue.
This is not the first time that FIFA has put match grass up for sale. Last summer it already carried out this same initiative with the MetLife Stadium field, where the Club World Cup final was played, which pitted Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain.
In addition, other sports have also developed similar actions. Major League Baseball sells small jars of game soil for $50 each.
In May, it went on sale an exclusive collection of t-shirts with designs inspired by the host cities
Nor is it the first premium item that FIFA has put on sale within the framework of the World Cup. Among other things, last May it put on sale an exclusive collection of t-shirts with designs inspired by the host cities of the games. 16 different garments were launched with 999 units each, at a price of 320 euros. By selling the almost 16,000 silver t-shirts, the organization could raise $6 million.
Other details of the final
In line with the solid entertainment proposal that has characterized this World Cup, the final match of the competition will feature a Super Bowl-style half-time show that could extend the break up to 30 minutes. Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira and the group BTS will be in charge of providing the musical note in an event that, according to FIFA, will be a “celebration where sport, art and global impact convergeIn addition, it will be creatively directed by Chris Martin, singer of Coldplay.
In addition, the show will also feature Gustavo Dudamel, the acclaimed Venezuelan conductor and musical and artistic director of the New York Philharmonic; as well as the PS 22 Choir, winner of the Webby Award, with the special participation of Coldplay. And some characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets will also make an appearance, as FIFA recently detailed in a statement.
The half-time show will contribute to the FIFA Fund and Global Citizen, an organization that fights for the elimination of extreme poverty and education. The fund aims to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and provide soccer opportunities for all children. So far, according to FIFA, more than 50 million have been raised since from each ticket sold for the tournament, one dollar is donated to the cause.
However, before the final match, the usual closing ceremony will also take place, which will feature a show featuring Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and the content creator IShowSpeed. In addition, Tom Cruise and other artists and special guests will also be present.
On the other hand, as has happened since 2010, the luxury brand Louis Vuitton will be present at the World Cup final with a chest designed to transport and display the official trophy. “It is the most coveted football award in the world, so, as it could not be otherwise, it must be carried in a Louis Vuitton chest.“, declared Romy Gai, Director of the Commercial Division of the FIF. “The climactic moment in which he enters the field of play in the final will once again link tradition with the heyday of today’s football.”
Additionally, the brand has created a collection of limited-edition cases featuring the hand-painted FIFA World Cup logo and Louis Vuitton’s gold “V.”
