Few trophies in sport are as instantly recognisable as the FIFA World Cup Trophy — two golden figures reaching up to hold the Earth.
So much about the 2026 tournament is new that many fans assume the trophy is new too. It isn’t — and the real story behind it is far more interesting.
Is the 2026 Tournament Getting a New Trophy?
No. The gold trophy raised by the 2026 champions is the exact same FIFA World Cup Trophy that has crowned every winner since 1974.
So much else has changed that fans reasonably assume the prize changed too. It has not — and it will not for years.
Before kickoff, that original trophy toured North America, stopping in 38 cities from Los Angeles and Mexico City to Vancouver and Toronto.
What Today’s Trophy Is Made Of
The current trophy was designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga and first awarded in 1974. His design shows two figures stretching up to hold the Earth.
| Detail | The Current FIFA World Cup Trophy |
|---|---|
| Designer | Silvio Gazzaniga (Italy) |
| First awarded | 1974 |
| Height | About 36.8 cm |
| Weight | About 6.1 kg |
| Material | 18-carat solid gold with two bands of malachite |
| Design | Two figures holding up the Earth |
Gazzaniga described the spiralling figures as capturing the moment of victory — athletes rising in triumph as they lift the world.
The Jules Rimet Trophy and How It Vanished
The World Cup’s first prize was a different trophy entirely, used from 1930 to 1970.
French sculptor Abel Lafleur designed it as Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, holding an octagonal cup aloft. It was originally called “Victory.”
It was renamed the Jules Rimet Trophy in 1946 to honour the FIFA president who launched the World Cup in 1930.
Brazil won it outright in 1970. The rule of the day let any nation that won three times keep the trophy forever — and Brazil did.
The trophy was then stolen twice:
- 1966, London: taken before the tournament and recovered a week later by a dog named Pickles.
- 1983, Rio de Janeiro: stolen from the Brazilian football confederation and never found — likely melted down. A replica stands in its place today.
Why the Winners Don’t Keep the Real Trophy
After Brazil kept the first trophy for good, FIFA changed the rules. The current trophy can never be won permanently.
The original belongs to FIFA and is kept at the FIFA Museum in Zurich. Champions hold it on the night, then hand it back.
Each winning nation instead receives a gold-plated replica — the FIFA World Cup Winners’ Trophy — to keep.
The names of every champion are engraved on the underside of the base. FIFA has not announced a replacement date for the current trophy.
That is the one way the trophy will eventually change — but not in 2026.
What Actually Changed for 2026
The 2026 tournament rewrites the record books in almost every way except the prize.
- 48 teams — up from 32, the largest field in World Cup history.
- Three host countries — Canada, Mexico and the United States share hosting for the first time.
- 104 matches across the longest World Cup ever, opened by three separate ceremonies.
For more on the football itself, see who won the last World Cup, the all-time World Cup goal-scoring records, and where teams sit in the FIFA World Cup rankings.
The teams, the format and the map have all changed. The trophy they are chasing has not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a new World Cup trophy for 2026?
No. The 2026 champions lift the same FIFA World Cup Trophy that has been used since 1974. Only the format and host countries are new this year.
Who designed the current FIFA World Cup trophy?
Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, whose design of two figures holding up the Earth was first awarded in 1974. It is made of 18-carat gold with a malachite base.
Do World Cup winners keep the real trophy?
No. The original belongs to FIFA and returns to the FIFA Museum in Zurich after the celebration. Each winning nation keeps a gold-plated replica instead.
What happened to the original Jules Rimet Trophy?
Brazil kept it permanently after winning their third title in 1970. It was stolen in Rio de Janeiro in 1983 and never recovered, likely melted down.
Has FIFA announced when the trophy will be replaced?
No. FIFA has not announced a replacement date for the current trophy. The 2026 trophy is unchanged.
Sources
- FIFA – The Story of the FIFA World Cup Trophy
- FIFA – Silvio Gazzaniga, Trophy Creator
- FIFA – World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola
- Olympics.com – FIFA World Cup Trophy History
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