FIFA World Cup Trophy: 10 facts about football’s most prestigious prize

Forty-eight teams from around the world are focused on winning the biggest prize in any sport this summer: the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Global soccer stars like Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappé will be aiming for their second World Cup title of their careers. Others, like Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and England’s Harry Kane, are considering their first. The prize in question, the World Cup trophy, is more fascinating than most fans realize. And with only eight countries having won it – Brazil (five times), Germany (four), Italy (four), Argentina (three), France (two), Uruguay (two), Spain (once) and England (once) – it’s also one of the most difficult to conquer. Here are 10 facts you might not know about football’s most prestigious prize. 10. The trophy is made of 18 carat gold. Combined with two layers of green malachite on the base, the total weight of the trophy is 6.142 kilograms (approximately 13.6 pounds). Although the interior of the trophy is hollow, it has incredible value based on its gold content alone. The gold content is equivalent to just over five kilograms (nearly 11 pounds) of pure gold, which would be worth about $550,000 in April 2026. Of course, no one would dare sell one of the most sought-after sporting trophies. 9. There are two versions of the trophy. The trophy we see today is not the original. The first ordered was the Jules Rimet Trophy (named after the first FIFA president), made of gold-plated sterling silver and consisting of a ten-sided cup, supported by a winged figure representing Nike, the ancient Greek goddess of victory. After Brazil won its third title in 1970, the team retained this trophy, leading to FIFA commissioning what is now the “FIFA World Cup Trophy” that we see today. The version we see today was first launched in 1974 by West Germany. 8. The trophy was hidden in a shoebox. Throughout World War II, FIFA vice-president Ottorino Barassi secretly took the trophy out of one of the safes of a bank in Rome. For what? To prevent it from falling into the wrong hands, or in their eyes, those of the occupying forces. He then hid the trophy in a shoebox under his bed for the rest of the war. 7. The trophy was stolen – TWICE! In March 1966, the Jules Rimet trophy was withdrawn from an exhibition in London. Miraculously, a dog named Pickles sniffed a package wrapped in newspaper while on a walk with his owner. The trophy was there and Pickles became a hero to fans around the world. England won their first and only men’s title a few months later – and Pickles was invited to the celebration banquet as a reward. The Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen again in 1983 while on display at the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil subsequently ordered a replacement replica of the trophy, with only one section of the original officially salvaged. 6. A replica of the trophy was purchased for $400,000. After the 1966 theft, the English Football Association created a replica of the trophy which would be used for public display while the real one was kept secure. In 1997, FIFA purchased the replica at auction for $400,000. This replica is now in England’s National Football Museum in Manchester. 5. The real home of the trophy is in Switzerland. The country that wins the entire tournament wins an entirely different version of the World Cup trophy (known as the World Cup Winners’ Trophy). The main one is at the FIFA Museum, located in Zurich, Switzerland. 4. The trophy is updated The paste located at the base of the trophy is removed after each winner and is sent to the FIFA Museum. A new trophy is added to the trophy with the name of the latest winner joining previous champions in a spiral arrangement to accommodate future winners. 3. The German team damaged the trophy After winning the 2014 World Cup, Germany celebrated in Berlin so hard that they managed to damage the trophy. Wolfgang Niersbach, president of the German Football Association, admitted that a small piece of the trophy had been chipped. Fortunately, it is the winner’s trophy and not the original that remains in Switzerland. 2. Handle it with care! Trophy travels in style The main trophy travels occasionally but is carefully handled by agents to ensure there is no damage in transit. When he hits the road, it’s for events like the World Cup trophy tour or the World Cup draw. He also makes an appearance in the final. 1. The trophy has a “no-touch” custom There is an unofficial custom that players follow where one should never touch the trophy before the final. However, the actual rules are actually much stricter: only World Cup winners and heads of state can touch the authentic golden trophy with their bare hands. Everyone must wear gloves. How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup The World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament games will be broadcast live on FOX (70) and FS1 (34), with each game streamed live and on-demand in the FOX One and FOX Sports apps. A record 40 games, more than a third of the tournament, will be broadcast in prime time on FOX (21) and FS1 (19).