Whether it’s Haaland or Kane who eventually hoists the iconic World Cup trophy remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the original is headed straight back to Switzerland the moment the final whistle blows and the victory celebrations conclude. Get the story behind the legendary prize here.
No One Gets to Keep the Original (Anymore)
The trophy the winners take home isn't the original at all, but rather a high-quality replica. The Italian-designed prize, which football fans worldwide recognize instantly, is guarded as closely as the British Crown Jewels, transported via top-secret routes, and insured for an undisclosed number of millions of dollars.
Brazil’s Dominance Demanded a New Prize
In the past, winning the World Cup three times granted a nation the right to keep the trophy for good. That is exactly what happened in 1970 when the Brazilians secured their third title and claimed the Jules Rimet trophy for eternity. Brazil’s ownership of the old trophy forced FIFA to initiate a new design competition. One of the artists invited was Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga.
With this, FIFA also introduced new rules for the trophy itself. Gone was the opportunity to win ownership of the specific trophy; instead, winners were awarded a high-quality replica once the festivities following the World Cup finals concluded. An icon, which is reportedly valued at $20 million, with the gold content alone valued at $700,000.
Ancient Techniques Behind the Creation
To this day, production takes place at GDA Berton, a family-owned workshop north of Milan that has specialized in trophies since the early 1900s. They utilize a 5,000-year-old technique known as "lost wax casting." The process consists of three steps. First, a wax model is created, meticulously crafted down to the smallest detail. This is then coated in heat-resistant ceramic. Good, old-fashioned craftsmanship, if you will!
Filled with 5 Kilos of Gold
Next, the wax is melted out of the heat-resistant shell—and voilà—you have the mold of the World Cup trophy. Now, it is time for the pour: no less than 5 kilograms of 18-karat gold are poured into the hollow form. The gold is alloyed with silver and copper to ensure it doesn't bend under its own weight. Last, but not least, the trophy is manually polished, creating that uniquely detailed and shimmering finish that so many football lovers recognize.
The finished trophy is hollow, and there is a very specific reason for that. If it were made of solid gold, it would weigh more than 40 kilograms, which would make it virtually impossible for a Messi—or even a Viking like Haaland—to lift it overhead during the jubilant post-final scenes.
Running Out of Space
When a nation wins the World Cup and the official celebrations conclude, they are awarded a brass, gold-plated replica. While the winning nation holds onto this copy, the original gold trophy is immediately returned to FIFA’s high-security vault in Zurich, Switzerland. It is not merely stored away; it is under constant protection and remains the organization's most guarded asset.
With space for engraving winners only until 2038, the current trophy’s days may soon be numbered—unless FIFA finds a new solution for future generations.
Want to learn more about the history behind the iconic trophy? Check out the fascinating video about the process here, where you can also hear more about the insane security measures and multi-million dollar insurance policies in place whenever the trophy is transported around the world.
Sources: FIFA, Times of India, The Process, FIFA's official YouTube channel
DA 
EN 
