NASA chief promises to send a World Cup ball to the Moon if the US men's team wins 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.

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.