Kicking Off Collecting

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The most anticipated and widely watched sporting event in the world, full of passionate fans cheering for their favorite teams, is the FIFA World Cup. Occurring every four years, this tournament brings together the best teams from around the globe to compete for the highly coveted title of the world’s best soccer team. I always cheer for Ecuador and the United States if they qualify, but each competition holds incredible moments. 

World Cup Issues

The host nation—or nations, in the case of the upcoming 2026 tournament—usually mints World Cup commemorative coins. Countries that qualify for the tournament sometimes strike their own commemoratives as well.

As an avid World Cup fan, I’ve begun to collect coins from previous tournaments in earnest. On a trip to Spain a couple years ago, I was able to purchase 10-euro  and 100-euro Spanish 2022 World Cup commemoratives (pictured above). That year’s tournament featured many incredible moments, such as Japan’s surprising run to the top of group E against tough opponents like Spain and Germany. Morocco became the first African country to reach the semifinals, and of course the epic finale between France and Argentina was unforgettable. To me and other collectors, these coins encapsulate all the emotions and memories tied to the games. There’s also a sense of satisfaction that comes from completing a set from that particular year—a goal that can be especially challenging due to low mintages and a lack of coins for international buyers. For this reason, I am beyond excited to see what the U.S. Mint has in store for this year’s commemorative designs. 

Soccer in America

The United States has hosted the Men’s FIFA World Cup only once, in 1994. Matches were held across nine major cities: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, East Rutherford, Los Angeles, Orlando, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. This tournament had a tremendous impact on U.S. soccer and still holds the record for the highest total attendance of any World Cup. The United States has also hosted two Women’s FIFA World Cups: 1999 and 2003. After losing in 1995, they achieved a triumphant win in 1999. Surprisingly, the U.S. Mint only produced coins for the 1994 Men’s FIFA World Cup and did not produce any commemoratives for the Women’s World Cups. 

1994 Commemoratives 

The three coins minted for the 1994 event include a clad half dollar, a silver dollar, and a gold $5. The reverse design for each features the 1994 World Cup logo. The obverse of the half dollar depicts a single soccer player, and the dollar shows two players competing for possession of the ball. The $5 gold piece displays the crown jewel of any trophy collection: the FIFA World Cup Trophy. 

Only eight countries have earned the honor of being crowned world champions: Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina, France, Uruguay, England, and Spain. Pictured below is a Brazilian 10 reals issued for the 2014 games. Some of these winners, like France and Brazil, have released exclusive championship coins commemorating the historic feat. 

Commemorative coins released for major events serve two important functions. First, they celebrate the event itself and the nation’s role in hosting or participating in it. Second, they raise money for related programs and organizations by adding a small surcharge to each coin sold. 

The commemoratives issued for the 1994 World Cup are part of the U.S. Mint’s longstanding commemorative coin program, which dates back to the 19th century. Since then, the U.S. Mint has been producing coins honoring everything our nation has to offer, including historic anniversaries, national monuments, and major cultural events.

For collectors, these coins represent more than just the metals they are made of. They capture a specific moment in time, when a country hosted an unforgettable global event and attracted millions of fans from around the world to watch. Years later, they serve as mementos of the excitement contained within the event: unexpected upsets, underdog successes, and of course, knockout goals. In this way, World Cup commemoratives connect the worlds of sports and numismatics, preserving the spirit of the tournament long after the final whistle has been blown.

2026 Outlook 

The U.S. men’s national soccer team has lagged behind when it comes to placing at the tournament. The closest the team has come to reaching the finals in recent memory was in 2002, when they lost to Germany in the quarterfinals. Before that, in 1930, they made it to the semifinals in the inaugural FIFA World Cup but lost to Argentina with a staggering score of 6-1. The current sentiment from fans and critics alike is mixed for the upcoming tournament. I believe the United States will make it out of the group stage but will need some luck to advance further.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup quickly approaching, anticipation is building. This tournament in particular will be historic because of its unique hosting arrangement. This marks the first time in FIFA’s long history that any tournament includes three host nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The number of teams competing is also expanding from 32 to 48, making it the largest World Cup to date. 

For numismatists, events of this scale are rare and lead to a large influx of commemorative coins from participating countries. These coins offer a variety of designs, from tournament logos and stadium imagery to national icons and symbolic representations of the sport itself. As new designs emerge from national mints in the coming months, collectors will have the opportunity to select pieces that will serve as World Cup mementos.

Some countries have already released their commemoratives for this year’s World Cup, including the United States, Canada, and France . The fate of the U.S. team may be uncertain, but we rest assured that we will receive some spectacular designs to mark this monumental event. You can find me cheering on my favorite teams with friends once the tournament begins, as well as ordering the U.S. Mint’s FIFA World Cup 2026 commemoratives.

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A version of this article appears in the June 2026 issue of The Numismatist (money.org)