FIFA World Cup Trophy: 10 Details About Soccer's Most Prestigious Prize

[ad_1] Forty-eight groups from throughout the globe are locked in with stars like Argentina's Lionel Messi and France's Kylian Mbappé eyeing their second World Cup title this summer time. Others like Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and England's Harry Kane are eyeing their first.

The prize in query, the World Cup trophy, is extra fascinating than most followers assume. And with solely eight nations ever to win it – Brazil (5 occasions), Germany (4), Italy (4), Argentina (three) France (two), Uruguay (two), Spain (as soon as) and England (as soon as) – its additionally one of many hardest ever to beat.

Listed here are 10 information about soccer's most prestigious prize that you could be not know.

10. The trophy is made from 18-carat gold (JAVIER SORIANO/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

Paired with two layers of inexperienced malachite on the bottom, the trophy's complete weight of 6,175 grams (about 13.6 kilos). Whereas the within of the trophy is hole, it has unimaginable worth based mostly on gold content material alone. The gold content material equates to 4,927 grams (almost 11 kilos) of pure gold – which might be round $550,000 as of April 2026. In fact, nobody would dare promote one in every of sports activities' most sought-after trophies.

9. There have been two variations of the trophy The trophy that we see right this moment isn’t the unique. The primary commissioned was the Jules Rimet trophy (named after FIFA's first president), made from gold-plated sterling silver and consisted of a decagonal cup, supported by a winged determine representing Nike, the traditional Greek goddess of victory. After Brazil received its third title in 1970, the workforce stored that trophy, main FIFA to fee what's now the "FIFA World Cup Trophy" that we now see. The model we now see was first lifted in 1974 by hosts West Germany.

8. The trophy was hidden in a shoebox All through World Struggle II, FIFA’s Vice President, Ottorino Barassi, secretly took out the trophy from one in every of Rome’s financial institution vaults. Why? To forestall it from falling into the improper palms, or of their eyes, the palms of occupying forces. He then hid the trophy in a shoebox below his mattress for the rest of the battle.

7. The trophy was stolen – TWICE! Pickles the canine who discovered the lacking World Cup in 1966. (Picture by Peter Stone/Day by day Mirror/Mirrorpix by way of Getty Photographs)

In 1966, the Jules Rimet trophy was lifted from an exhibition in London. Then, by a miracle from heaven, a canine named Pickles sniffed out a package deal wrapped in newspaper whereas on a stroll along with his proprietor. The trophy casually occurred to be sitting there and Pickles grew to become a hero to followers internationally. Nevertheless it was once more stolen in 1983 whereas displayed on the Brazilian Soccer Confederation headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil then commissioned a alternative reproduction of the trophy, with just one part of the unique ever formally recovered.

6. A faux trophy was purchased for $400,000 After the 1966 theft, FIFA purchased a reproduction of the trophy at an public sale for $400,000. It later turned out to be a reproduction of the Jules Rimet trophy, made from cheaper supplies. It was disproved in 2016 after scientists discovered that it contained tin and lead.

5. The true trophy stays in Switzerland (Picture by Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu by way of Getty Photographs)

The nation that wins the entire match receives a wholly completely different trophy. For the primary trophy itself, it stays put within the FIFA Museum, which is situated in Zurich, Switzerland.

4. The trophy has an expiration date? (Picture by Archivo El Grafico/Getty Photographs)

As a result of the trophy has every winner’s identify on the gold-squared plaques, there's a bodily restrict to what number of names may be on the trophy. After that, this trophy’s lifespan will probably be decided. The ultimate slot will probably be stuffed in 2038, with FIFA not asserting if they may develop the bottom, or create a wholly new design.

3. The trophy was broken by the Germany workforce (Picture by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Photographs)

After their 2014 World Cup win, Germany partied in Berlin so onerous that they managed to wreck the trophy. Wolfgang Niersbach, the President of the German FA, admitted {that a} small piece of the trophy was chipped off. Fortunately, it was the winner’s trophy, not the unique that continues to be in Switzerland.

2. Deal with with care! The trophy has a diplomatic standing (Picture by AMA/Corbis by way of Getty Photographs)

The trophy is one in every of few objects on this planet to have a diplomatic standing. Throughout journey, it's hand-inspected by brokers to keep away from tough dealing with or any potential structural injury.

1. The trophy has a ‘no-touch’ customized (Picture by FRANCK FIFE/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

There may be an unofficial "curse" that gamers comply with wherein one ought to by no means contact the trophy earlier than the ultimate. Nevertheless, the true guidelines are literally a lot stricter: solely World Cup winners and heads of state can contact the genuine gold trophy with their naked palms. Everybody else is required to put on gloves.

How To Watch The 2026 FIFA World Cup The World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Unfold throughout three nations, the match will culminate with the ultimate on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 match matches will air stay throughout FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with each match streaming stay and on-demand inside each the FOX One and the FOX Sports activities apps. A report 40 matches, greater than one-third of the match, will air in prime time throughout FOX (21) and FS1 (19).