Seoul: The championship trophy for the FIFA World Cup is scheduled to be showcased in Seoul this week as part of the global tour leading up to the upcoming tournament, the event’s organizers announced Wednesday. Organized by Coca-Cola, the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour will make a two-day stop in the South Korean capital starting Friday at CGV Yongsan IPark Mall. The trophy will first be unveiled at a media conference Friday afternoon and then be available for public viewing on Saturday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the trophy tour began in 2006 and has previously visited South Korea in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2022. For this year’s unveiling on Friday, FIFA’s global ambassador, former Brazilian international Gilberto Silva, will present the trophy. He will be joined by retired South Korean football stars Cha Bum-kun, Cha Duri, Lee Young-pyo, and Koo Ja-cheol.
The current tour started in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on January 3. The trophy will visit 30 FIFA member nations across 75 stops over more than 150 tour days. Per FIFA rules, only former champions and heads of state are permitted to touch the original trophy. While the trophy is awarded to the World Cup champions, it remains in FIFA’s possession. The winning team temporarily retains the authentic trophy and is later awarded the tournament edition trophy, known as the Winner’s Trophy, for permanent possession.
The authentic trophy is crafted from solid gold and depicts two human figures holding the globe aloft. The tournament edition is gold-plated, with the year of the tournament, the host country’s name, and the champion’s name engraved on it. The 2026 World Cup will be the largest ever, featuring 48 nations, an increase from 32. The United States, Canada, and Mexico will co-host the event from June 11 to July 19.
South Korea is set to make their 11th consecutive World Cup appearance, marking their 12th overall. They will compete against Mexico, South Africa, and a European playoff winner in Group A, with all three group matches occurring in Mexico.