It is the most famous prize in football: a golden figure of two players holding up the earth. But the trophy lifted at the 2026 World Cup has a story of its own, and it is not the first one the tournament used.
From the Jules Rimet to today
The original prize, the Jules Rimet Trophy, was awarded from 1930 until Brazil won it for a third time in 1970 and were allowed to keep it for good. FIFA then commissioned a new design, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, first handed out in 1974 and still in use today.
What it is made of
The current trophy stands about 37 centimetres tall and is made largely of solid 18-carat gold, weighing over six kilograms. Its base contains bands of malachite, and the names of every winning nation are engraved underneath.
Do the winners keep it?
No team keeps the original any more. The champions lift the real trophy on the night, then receive a gold-plated replica to take home, while FIFA retains the genuine article. That single golden moment, captain raising the cup, is what every one of the 48 teams in 2026 is chasing.