How is the World Cup trophy made?

The World Cup trophy is the most coveted prize in world football. The current design has been awarded to the winning nation since 1974, replacing the traditional Jules Rimet Trophy at the West Germany edition. The host nation lifted the new trophy for the first time after winning the tournament on home soil.

West Germany were world champions in 1974 – Photo by IMAGO/piemags

The trophy was designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga in 1971, after he won a FIFA competition to select the new prize. The change occurred because the Jules Rimet Trophy was permanently awarded to Brazil after they became the first nation to win the World Cup three times in 1970.

“The lines spring from the base, rising in spirals, stretching out to receive the world. From the remarkable dynamic tensions of the compact body of the sculpture, the figures of two athletes emerge in the exciting moment of victory.” (Silvio Gazzaniga)

What is the World Cup trophy made of, and what are its exact dimensions?

Weight: 6.175 kg. Height: 36.8 cm. Base diameter: 13 cm.

The current World Cup trophy weighs 6.175 kg and is crafted from solid 18-karat gold. The two green bands at the base are made from malachite, a copper carbonate mineral known for its vivid colour.

The trophy stands 36.8 cm tall with a 13 cm base diameter. The names of every nation to have won the tournament are engraved on the underside of the base, beginning with the 1974 edition, when the prize was first awarded in its current form.

Germany appear most frequently on the trophy, having won the editions in 1974, 1990, and 2014. Brazil appear twice, for their victories in 1994 and 2002.

What happens to the World Cup trophy?

Handling of the World Cup trophy is governed by strict rules. Only a select group of people, such as world champion footballers and heads of state, are permitted to touch the original trophy.

Where is the World Cup trophy kept today?

Another significant change concerns where the trophy is kept between tournaments. Previously, the winning nation would retain the original World Cup trophy until the next edition, when it would be returned to FIFA.

That tradition ended in 2006. Since then, the winning side has lifted the original trophy during the ceremony, but it has been returned to FIFA headquarters in Switzerland immediately afterwards.