World Cup trophy returns to Qatar after world tour

The original FIFA World Cup trophy arrived in Doha yesterday morning at the end of its global tour that included more than 50 countries and regions, a few days before the start of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Later, in the evening, football legend Marcel Desailly and the FIFA World Cup general manager for Coca-Cola, Nazli Berberoglu, unveiled the trophy at a special event held at Alwadi Hotel Doha – MGallery, Msheireb.

The original World Cup trophy’s global tour kicked off in Dubai in the UAE in May, visiting all the countries participating in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and other nations, in a tradition that began in 2006.

The promotional tour represented an opportunity for fans to watch the trophy, which 32 teams will compete for starting Sunday.

The original FIFA World Cup trophy will remain under the supervision of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and FIFA from now until the final of the World Cup on December 18. According to FIFA rules, only former champions and heads of state have the right to touch the cup, which is temporarily kept by the winning team. Later, the winners receive a special gold-plated copy. Meanwhile, the original trophy made of gold returns to FIFA, as per laws and regulations. Although the trophy is given to the winning team, it remains the property of FIFA. The trophy is made of pure gold and weighs 6.142kg. Its surface is engraved with two people carrying the globe high, with its current design dating back to 1974.