#1. World Cup Winners Don’t Get to Keep the Trophy
The original FIFA World Cup trophy is permanently housed at the FIFA Museum in Zurich, Switzerland. World Cup winners briefly celebrate with the original trophy during the official presentation ceremony, immediately after the final match, before receiving the FIFA World Cup Winners’ Trophy, a gold-plated replica they can keep. The original remains FIFA’s property.
#2. Why FIFA Introduced a New World Cup Trophy
The current World Cup trophy was first presented in 1974, replacing the previous Jules Rimet trophy (1930 – 1970) that was permanently awarded to Brazil in 1970 after they became the first nation to win the World Cup three times.
#3. Not Pure Gold!
The FIFA World Cup trophy weighs about 6.1 kg and contains roughly 5 kg of 18-carat gold (75% gold mixed with other metals). The two green bands (layers) around the trophy’s base are crafted from the semi-precious stone malachite.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy isn’t made of pure 24-carat gold because pure gold is too soft and malleable, making it vulnerable to scratches and dents during handling and celebrations.
#4. The FIFA World Cup Trophy is Hollow
Despite looking like a solid sculpture, the FIFA World Cup Trophy is actually hollow inside. This hollow interior keeps the 18-carat gold trophy at a manageable 6.175 kg. If it were made from solid gold, it would weigh an estimated 70-80 kg.
#5. Not Everyone Can Touch the World Cup Trophy
Despite being lifted by champions around the world, the original FIFA World Cup Trophy can only be touched without gloves by a select few, including the FIFA President, heads of state, World Cup-winning players and officials.
#6. Engraving at the Bottom
The names of every FIFA World Cup-winning team and the year of their victory are engraved on the trophy’s base. After the 2014 tournament, FIFA changed the engraving layout from vertical rows to a spiral configuration, creating enough space for future champions until 2038.
#7. Who Designed the World Cup Trophy?
Designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga (1921–2016), the original FIFA World Cup Trophy has an estimated value of around US$20 million, making it one of the most valuable trophies in sport.
The FIFA World Cup trophy depicts two human figures lifting the Earth, symbolising the joy and unity of victory on football’s biggest stage.
