Much like other iconic sports awards, the FIFA World Cup Trophy is the result of evolving design concepts, metalworking, finishing, and strict quality control, which have kept the trophy distinct for decades.
Brief History
Originally known as Victory, the early FIFA trophy was renamed the Jules Rimet Cup in 1946 to honor the FIFA president and tournament founder. For the 1974 World Cup, FIFA chose the designs of Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga and changed the construction details. The new design boasted 18-karat gold and bands of green malachite in contrast to the 1946 trophy, which featured gold-plated sterling silver on a lapis lazuli base.
GDE Bertoni, an Italian firm based on the outskirts of Milan, has since been the main manufacturer of the trophy. Production is an intricate process including hammering, grinding, polishing, washing, chemical treatment, and varnishing.
Solid Build, Stunning Detail
The trophy measures approximately 14.5 inches tall and weighs 13.6 pounds. Its construction consists of solid 18-carat gold and two banded layers of malachite, which contribute about 3 pounds to the trophy’s overall weight and add a stunning green hue to the trophy’s base.
On the base, each winning team’s name is inscribed to track the championship’s timeline.
Replicas Over the Original
One of the more unique parts of the FIFA trophy is that the winning team does not keep the original. Instead, it remains with the association after being presented to the winning country.
The trophy is engraved with the champion team’s name, and afterward, winners receive a replica made of golden brass rather than solid gold.
Meanwhile, the original sits in safekeeping under high security at FIFA headquarters in Zurich.
That structure ensures that all teams get to enjoy the festivities and take something special home.
Before the current iteration of the cup, the trophy saw a wild set of adventures. The vice president of FIFA hid it under a bed during World War II in a shoebox to ensure it didn’t fall into the Nazis’ hands. In the late 1960s, the cup was stolen during a public exhibition in Westminster, England, and shortly after recovered by a dog in a local garden. Subsequent thefts in the 1970s and 1980s no doubt led to the current practice of presenting the trophy in a celebration, then keeping it under safe lock and key.