What is the new World Cup trophy made of? How much does it weigh and when was it first used?

The FIFA World Cup trophy is one of the most recognizable prizes in sports. Players dream of lifting it, but I wonder how many of them actually know what it’s made from, why it looks the way it does or even why the champions don’t get to keep the original. I’d like to think that if I’d ever got close to being an international player for a country in with a chance, I’d have done my homework. Then again, I’d more likely be fully focused on improving my first touch.

So, for all those players featuring in the latter stages of the 2026 World Cup – and any fans who care – here’s everything I think you need to know about soccer’s most famous trophy. If you think you need to know something else, let me know in the comments and I’ll sort you out.

What is the FIFA World Cup trophy made of? Who designed it?

The current FIFA World Cup trophy is made primarily from 18-karat (75%) solid gold. It contains 5.092 kilograms (11.23 pounds) of pure gold and stands on a base decorated with two rings of green malachite, a semi-precious stone.

Designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, the trophy depicts two human figures lifting the Earth, symbolizing the global nature of the tournament.

How much does the World Cup trophy weigh?

The trophy weighs 6.142 kilograms, which is approximately 13.5 pounds. That’s about the weight of your average bowling ball.

Despite being relatively small at 14.5 inches (36.8 centimeters) tall – similar to a standard bowling pin – its high gold content makes it surprisingly heavy. If it were made from pure 24-karat gold, it would likely be too soft to withstand being handled and lifted by generations of champions.

When was the current World Cup trophy first used?

The current trophy made its debut at the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany.

It replaced the famous Jules Rimet Trophy, which had been awarded since the inaugural World Cup in 1930. Brazil earned permanent ownership of the Jules Rimet Trophy after winning its third World Cup in 1970.

Since 1974, every World Cup-winning captain has lifted the same trophy design.

Do World Cup winners keep the original trophy?

No.

Contrary to popular belief, the original FIFA World Cup trophy never leaves FIFA’s ownership permanently. After the post-match celebrations, the champions return it.

Instead, each winning nation receives an official gold-plated Winner’s Trophy that closely resembles the original. FIFA also adds a new engraved disk to the base of the original trophy after every tournament, listing the latest champions.

And now you know.

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