The FIFA WORLD CUP Glistening Hardware
The legendary FIFA World Cup Trophy was unveiled for the first time ever in New York City as part of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola earlier this afternoon. As one of the most recognized sports symbols in the world and a priceless icon, the world’s most “sought-after trophy” will also make stops in Miami and Los Angeles.
Soccer News: The Trophy Tour is set to get the world ready to taste the feeling of the 2018 FIFA World Cup as Coca-Cola shares the passion fans around the world have for football.
Victoria Lopyreva, 2018 FIFA Ambassador, was proudly showing off the gold in New York City today — The FIFA World Cup Trophy has just begun the tour which also makes stops in Miami and LA.
Here are some fun facts to impress your friends: Coca-Cola/FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour By The Numbers
- During its global journey, the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola will visit 91 cities in 51 countries, spanning six continents on a nine-month journey.
- This is the fourth global FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola. The FIFA World Cup™ Original Trophy will travel more than 152,000km throughout the duration of the entire tour.
- The last time the FIFA World Cup™ Original Trophy was in the U.S. was in 2014, when it stopped in Washington D.C., Miami, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
- The FIFA World Cup™ Original Trophy is made of 18-carat gold with a malachite base, weighing approx. 13.44 lbs and is 14.48 inches high
- The Trophy bears the engraved year and name of each FIFA World Cup winner since 1974.
- Coca-Cola has been a global partner of the FIFA World Cup since 1974.
- Brazil has won the honor of lifting the World Cup Trophy five times, and they are the only team to have played in every tournament.
- The other World Cup winners are Germany and Italy, with four titles each.
- Argentina and inaugural winner Uruguay, with two titles each. Who knew Uruguay won the World Cup!
- And, of course, England, France, and Spain have only won once — although most English coaches act like they won more than Brazil.
And … Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, who said he is not a diehard football fan himself but does watch the World Cup final to see his trophy raised, designed the current trophy in 1971.
At the time, the trophy cost about $50,000.
Today, the trophy is probably worth over $15 million. Not that it would be worth that much melted down but …
This iconic glistening symbol of success means more than its literal weight in gold.
Finally, who was Pickles?
Yes, Pickles is the name of the famous black and white collie dog who found the stolen World Cup trophy in 1966. A mystery that was never solved, and a crime with no arrests, Pickles found the what was then called the “Jules Rimet Trophy” in March 1966, four months before the 1966 FIFA World Cup kicked off in England. Jules Rimet was the FIFA President who launched the competition.
