World Cup Gold Cup and facts you may not know

On the occasion of the 2022 World Cup, let's take a look at 10 secrets that you may not know about the most prestigious gold cup in the world.

Maybe you are a passionate fan of the king sport and are very interested in the biggest football festival on the planet, the World Cup. You are very knowledgeable about each player's history and the tournament. However, are you sure that you know all the secrets behind the most prestigious gold cup in the world? Here we will reveal 10 secrets of the gold cup that has existed for more than 88 years.

1. The first trophy – 1930

The first shape of the most prestigious gold cup on the planet.

Since the first World Cup tournament took place in 1930 in Uruguay. The first gold trophy appeared with the name 'Golden Goddess' designed by a goldsmith named Abel Lafleur and made from real gold weighing 1.8kg, with a base made of blue marble weighing nearly 4kg. Before 1970, this Cup was still returned to FIFA due to the regulations.

2. Brazil is the only country to own the golden cup permanently.

Captain Carlos Alberto holds high Brazil's third consecutive gold trophy.

The 1970 World Cup was the third consecutive championship for the Brazilian team. Therefore, Brazil was awarded the golden trophy 'Jules Rimet' permanently according to FIFA regulations. After that, FIFA ordered another Cup and named it the FIFA World Cup. According to the new regulations, this Cup will not belong to any team, the winning teams will be awarded a miniature model as a souvenir along with keeping the World Cup until the next tournament.

3. The 'Jules Rimet' Trophy was stolen after 1970

'Jules Rimet' went missing after Brazil's glorious 1970 victory.

After Brazil won the World Cup for the third time in 1970, the Brazilian team kept the trophy forever, due to FIFA regulations issued when the tournament was first established. The trophy was displayed at the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation in Rio De Janeiro in a glass case that could withstand missiles. However, in December 1983, the 'Jules Rimet' trophy disappeared, flying away from its protective glass case, and four men were suspected and convicted.

4. The first trophy 'Jules Rimet' is completely missing

The fate of 'Jules Rimet' remains the world's greatest mystery to this day.

On 20 March 1966, four months before the opening of the World Cup in England, the 'Jules Rimet' Trophy was stolen from a public exhibition in Westminster Abbey. Fortunately, it was found just seven days later, wrapped in newspaper and buried under a garden hedge in Upper Norwood, south London, by a dog named Pickles. However, tragedy struck when the trophy was stolen again, after Brazil had been permanently awarded the trophy in 1970. As mentioned above, to this day the trophy has not been found.

5. 'Emperor' Franz Beckenbauer was the first person to lift the FIFA Cup

Beckenbauer is the first 'leader' to lift the new trophy

In the 10th edition of the World Cup, West Germany were the first team to lift the prestigious FIFA World Cup trophy on their home turf. The first to lift the trophy was 'Emperor' Beckenbauer after defeating the Netherlands 2-1 in Munich.

6. The FIFA World Cup trophy was designed by an Italian artist

The masterpiece that Silvio brought to the world is immense.

More than just a trophy awarded to the world champion, the World Cup trophy is also one of the most outstanding works of art of all time. To create it, it took 53 famous sculptors from around the world to work on the design of Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga in 1971.

When he defeated opponents from 17 other countries, according to Silvio's design, the gold cup is 36.5cm high, made from 5kg of 18-carat gold and 2 layers of green gemstones. In addition, the Cup is also a work of art with a spiral shape created by 2 players holding the globe, raising it as a symbol of victory.

7. The replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy is just 'gold-plated'

 The replica of this trophy is just 'gold plated'.

The official FIFA World Cup trophy is made from 6.175 kg of solid gold and is extremely valuable. However, the replica of this trophy when awarded to the winning teams is just 'gold-plated' and hollow. The winning team only gets to keep this trophy for a period of time, after which FIFA will make a smaller version of the trophy for the winning teams. Of course, no team will be able to keep this FIFA World Cup trophy forever.

8. The champion's name will be engraved at the 'bottom' of the trophy position

The name of the winning team will be engraved in the language of that country.

If we pay attention, we will see that the FIFA World Cup is engraved on the base of the trophy. However, if the teams win the honor of the championship at each World Cup, it will be engraved on the bottom of the trophy, so it will not be visible when the trophy is placed upright. And the name of the champion team will be engraved in the language of that country, if Vietnam wins the World Cup, the bottom of the trophy will clearly say 'Vietnam' on this trophy. As of 2014, there have been 11 champions whose names have been engraved on the bottom, it is not clear how FIFA will stop using this trophy, when the names of the countries have been engraved on the bottom of the Cup.

9. 'Empty' FIFA World Cup trophy

The FIFA World Cup trophy is hollow.

This may seem disappointing to us, but it is true. It is said that a solid World Cup trophy weighs around 70kg, which is too heavy for the players to celebrate their victory. The current trophy was created by FIFA to replace the 'Jules Rimet' trophy, also known as the 'Golden Goddess'.

10. The FIFA World Cup has visited Vietnam three times.

This gold cup has come to Vietnam, part of the FIFA World Cup Trophy program.

In 2014, in an activity to cheer for the World Cup in Brazil. This golden cup came to Vietnam, as part of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour program lasting 267 days through 88 countries and territories around the world. Accordingly, Vietnamese fans were able to admire and take pictures with the prestigious FIFA World Cup golden cup. This is the third time this Cup has set foot on the S-shaped land.