FIFA World Cup 2026 is very near and the biggest attention is certainly directed towards the championship race of the group of candidates including Argentina - the defending champion, France, England, Spain, Portugal. "Giant guys" like Germany and Brazil, despite their glorious history, are not ranked in the leading group this time, but they can still create surprises to lift the trophy.
Before that race officially begins, the question that many people may be interested in is how much is the FIFA World Cup trophy really worth, especially if it is made in 2026?
Although spiritual value is priceless, the current market value, purely from the perspective of raw materials, is estimated at about 250,000 USD. World gold prices have skyrocketed in recent months, and the level of craftsmanship needed to create the cup is enormous.
However, the actual value of the trophy is many times higher. If this trophy is assumed to be auctioned on the current market, its value could easily exceed 20 million USD.
What is the FIFA World Cup trophy made of?
The trophy is 37cm high, made of 18 karat gold and weighs about 6 kg. The design depicts 2 human figures supporting the Earth. This image really represents why football is the number 1 sport in the world.
Interestingly, the trophy is not completely solid but hollow inside. If it is made of solid gold, it will be too heavy for players to lift comfortably. The base of the trophy has 2 layers of malachite, a semi-precious mineral of green color.
The trophy was designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, after FIFA launched an international competition in 1970. The previous trophy, Jules Rimet, was permanently awarded to Brazil after they won their third World Cup title in Mexico in 1970.
The current trophy was first awarded to West Germany in 1974, under the leadership of legendary captain, defender Franz Beckenbauer.
Teams receiving copies
A little-known fact is that champion teams are not allowed to keep the original trophy. FIFA maintains strict ownership of the real award, the trophy will be brought to its headquarters in Zurich immediately after the final match ends.
Instead, the champion country will be awarded a gold-plated bronze replica to bring home.
