The World Cup trophy
On Sunday 13th November 2022 the World Cup trophy landed in Qatar ahead of kick-off of the FIFA World Cup on November 20, 2022.
The trophy was unveiled in Qatar after a 51-leg globe tour that began in May in Dubai, UAE, and visited all of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 participant countries as well as additional countries, continuing a tradition that began in 2006.
It will be overseen by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) and FIFA until the last match of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 when it will be handed over to the victorious team. Uganda Radio Network takes a look at the famous FIFA World Cup trophy, how it is made, and who gets to keep it.
The current trophy was designed by Silvio Gazzaniga, a Milanese artist who sculpted the famous trophy in 1971 and has been in use since 1974. FIFA selected Gazzaniga’s design from among 53 other trophy models exhibited. The 1974 (West) Germany Franz Beckenbauer became the first captain to lift the new trophy after beating the Netherlands 2 – 1.
It replaced the Jules Rimet trophy, which was permanently bestowed on Brazil. The Jules Rimet trophy was originally known as ‘Victory,’ but was renamed in 1946 to honor former FIFA President Jules Rimet, the third-ever president of FIFA who advocated the idea of a World Cup.
Previously, if a team become three-time champions, the trophy would be permanently bestowed on them. Brazil won the championship for the third time in 1970, and FIFA later authorized Brazil to keep the trophy permanently.
This Jules Rimet trophy, however, was stolen in 1983 from the Brazilian Football Confederation headquarters in Rio de Janeiro and since then current location of the trophy is unknown. It is speculated that it was melted and sold.
After designing the trophy in 1971, FIFA amended the rules such that the new trophy is not permanently granted to the winning nation, regardless of how many World Cups they win. The original trophy is presently kept in Zurich, Switzerland, at the FIFA World Football Museum.
This present trophy, known as the FIFA World Cup Trophy, was originally used in 1974 when West Germany won the tournament. While it cost roughly $50,000 to make initially, it is now considered to be worth around $20 million (75 billion Shillings).
The new trophy is made of 18-carat gold while the base of the trophy is made of malachite, the trophy is just under 37cm (14 inches) in height and weighs just over 6kg (13 pounds). It depicts two human figures holding a globe aloft.
Every four years, a brass copy of the trophy is provided and handed to the football federation of the winning side. The winning nation however gets to lift the real trophy, but when the celebrations are over they take home a cheaper replica.
On the final day, the trophy is always displayed on the pitch’s sideline during the game and after the end of the game, the victorious team’s name is engraved at the bottom of the trophy, it is delivered to the captain of the winning team.
However, there is concern that a new World Cup trophy will be needed in 2042 because the name plaque at the base of the existing trophy is meant to be filled with the names of the 17 champions from 1974 to 2038.