NASA chief promises to send a World Cup ball to the Moon if the US men's team wins the 2026 tournament
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said on Tuesday that a World Cup match ball would be delivered to the lunar surface by a robot if the United States men's national team triumphs in the 2026 tournament.
The promise
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman made the pledge during a press event on Tuesday, addressing the US men's team ahead of their round-of-16 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. "We will get the football there," Isaacman said, framing the offer as extra motivation for the host nation.
So there's a little motivation for the USA. That's the challenge — so Team USA, let's go!
How it would work
The ball would travel as part of a robotic cargo mission carrying scientific instruments under the US plan to build a lunar base in the coming years. Carlos Garcia-Galan, NASA's manager for the lunar base programme, confirmed the payload is feasible.
It's pretty light and I think we'll manage with that volume, so it all depends on the men's national team.
The road ahead
The US team faces Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 16 on 1 July (early 2 July in Central European time). The World Cup final is scheduled for 19 July. The American men have never won the tournament, while the US women's team holds four titles.
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman promises to send a World Cup ball to the Moon if the US men win the tournament.
- US men's team faces Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 16.
- World Cup final; if the US wins, the lunar ball delivery will be planned.
A ball already in orbit
To mark the tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, NASA has already sent a FIFA World Cup ball to the International Space Station. The lunar delivery would be a far more ambitious follow-up, though the US men are not considered favourites to lift the trophy.
