NASA Administrator Pledges to Send World Cup Ball and Signed Jersey to the Moon if U.S. Wins 2026 Tournament

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has promised a unique celestial tribute should the United States clinch the 2026 FIFA World Cup: an official football and a signed jersey from the U.S. Men's National Team will be sent to the Moon.

Nelson made this pledge during a livestreamed briefing on June 30, which detailed NASA's ongoing Moon Base and Artemis program initiatives. He reiterated the commitment the following day on X, framing a potential World Cup victory as another testament to American ingenuity and the pursuit of seemingly unattainable goals, drawing parallels with the historic Moon landing.

"So, when you guys defy the odds, we’ll send the FIFA World Cup ball and one of your jerseys with the signatures of the USMNT to the Moon," Nelson wrote in a post, reposting an update from the U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (USMNT).

This announcement comes on the heels of a significant achievement for the U.S. Men's National Team, which advanced to the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time in two decades. The team secured a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1, marking their first World Cup knockout win since 2002. The U.S. is scheduled to play Belgium in Seattle on July 7. Notably, a FIFA World Cup football has previously traveled to space, having been delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) in September 2025.

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So, when you guys defy the odds, we’ll send the FIFA World Cup ball and one of your jerseys with the signatures of the USMNT to the Moon.