Do FIFA World Cup Winners Keep The Trophy? The Truth Behind Football's Most Coveted Prize

Published 19 July 2026 · sports

Do FIFA World Cup Winners Keep The Trophy? The Truth Behind Football's Most Coveted Prize Published By, Last Updated: July 19, 2026, 22:10 IST The

Do FIFA World Cup Winners Keep The Trophy? The Truth Behind Football's Most Coveted Prize Published By, Last Updated: July 19, 2026, 22:10 IST The World Cup winners get the glory, the medals and millions in prize money—but not the trophy forever. Here's why FIFA always takes football's most iconic prize back. Rapid Read The original FIFA World Cup Trophy (AP) When the captain of the winning team hoists the FIFA World Cup trophy after the final whistle, it looks like the ultimate prize in football has found its forever home. The reality, however, is very different. The champions do not get to keep the original FIFA World Cup trophy permanently. The Truth Instead, the winning nation is allowed to celebrate with the iconic 18-carat gold trophy during the presentation ceremony and official post-match celebrations. Afterward, FIFA reclaims the original trophy, which remains the permanent property of world football’s governing body.

The reason is simple: the World Cup trophy is considered one of the most valuable and recognisable prizes in global sport. Standing 36.8 cm tall and weighing 6.175 kg, it is crafted from solid 18-carat gold with two layers of malachite at its base. Given its historical significance and immense value, FIFA keeps the original under tight security and only brings it out for official events. So What Do The Winners Receive? Every World Cup-winning nation is presented with an official FIFA-authorised replica, often referred to as the Winners’ Trophy. Unlike the original, the replica is gold-plated rather than solid gold, but it is identical in appearance and serves as the nation’s permanent keepsake. This policy has been in place since the current World Cup trophy was introduced in 1974, replacing the Jules Rimet Trophy. Was The Real Trophy Ever Awarded To Anyone? Ironically, the Jules Rimet Trophy was once awarded permanently to Brazil after their third World Cup triumph in 1970.

That precedent ended after the trophy was stolen from the Brazilian Football Confederation headquarters in 1983 and was never recovered. The incident reinforced FIFA’s decision that the current trophy would never permanently leave its possession. So, while the winning captain gets the unforgettable image of lifting football’s greatest prize, the original trophy eventually returns to FIFA’s vault — ready to be presented again four years later. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered What happens to the replica trophy after a team wins? After a team wins the World Cup, they receive an official FIFA-authorized replica, known as the Winners' Trophy, which is gold-plated and serves as their permanent keepsake. The original 18-carat gold trophy is returned to FIFA. Could the original trophy ever be stolen again? The original FIFA World Cup trophy, the Jules Rimet Trophy, was stolen before the 1966 World Cup and recovered by a dog named Pickles.