Just six months in, 2026 has already proved an exceptionally action-packed year for sports. The Winter Olympic Games, the New York Knicks’ ascent to the NBA Finals and the Grand Slam tennis tournaments have captured the attention of even casual spectators. For soccer devotees, the FIFA World Cup is as good as it gets. The quadrennial event’s weeks-long stretch of matches kicked off on June 11, to the delight of a global audience made up of enthusiasts of all ages — and interest levels.
A shiny FIFA jersey is an unmistakable statement of fandom. But if bling is more your thing, and your emotional involvement clocks in somewhere between “passionate” and “obsessed,” you might be drawn to these soccer ball cufflinks by New York City jeweler Roman Malakov.
In fact, they were created with the popularity of the FIFA tournament in mind (the championship game alone is expected to attract 1.5 billion viewers). “I’ve already had four orders on these soccer cufflinks, but with different metal colors and gemstones,” designer and production manager Michael Malakov tells The Study.
Sports-inspired jewels date back to the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Antique and vintage cufflinks reverse-painted, enameled or engraved with depictions of golf or equestrian pursuits like fox hunting are highly sought after by aficionados; later examples display a broadener recreational scope, modeling tennis rackets, cricket bats, baseballs, footballs and other leisure-activity equipment. Contemporary cufflinks might incorporate any number of sporty allusions, from maritime motifs to miniature skiers, while the possibilities for custom designs, perhaps displaying a college or professional team’s colors, are infinite.
The use of exceptionally precious materials elevates such pieces from novelties to important jewelry. Malakov’s striking cufflinks feature 24 hexagon-cut diamonds — representing the stitched panels of actual soccer balls — meticulously mounted on beautifully sculpted 18-karat white- and yellow-gold spheres. The stones collectively weigh an impressive 5.4 carats, or 2.7 carats on each wrist.
Dressed up or down, the soccer cufflinks would be a fitting accessory for spectating from a skybox at MetLife Stadium. Or attending the most exclusive watch parties. Moreover, unlike FIFA swag, they have lasting value. The joy they bring will not dissipate when the chants and cheering crowds recede.
And wouldn’t these cufflinks make an excellent Father’s Day gift? Receiving them during a World Cup year would only add to their sentimental value. Years from now, they could serve as a conversation piece at subsequent soccer tournaments — even youth league games. What could compete with that?
