The FIFA World Cup Trophy global tour by Coca Cola, kicked off in Dubai on Thursday, May 12, 2022 and may journey down to your country one of these days before it finally lands in Qatar by November.
So, you may have the privilege to see it, but you cannot in anyway be allowed to touch it. The few people who have the right to touch it must wear a pair of gloves, that's the kind of almost respect with which the football governing body carries the trophy, like a religious Idol.
It may surprise you that seven times Ballon d'Or winner, perhaps, the best football player of all time, Lionel Messi or the five times Ballon d'Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo are not qualified to touch the world Cup trophy. But George Weah, a one time Ballon d'Or winner from Africa, can touch it when the trophy get to Liberia.
Holy cow, so what's the criteria for touching the Original trophy?
For your information, the FIFA World Cup Trophy is awarded to the winners of the FIFA World Cup while remaining in FIFA’s possession. The trophy is made of solid gold and weighing 6.142kg, it depicts two human figures holding the globe aloft.
Its current design dates back to 1974. As one of the most recognised sports symbols in the world and a priceless icon, the original FIFA World Cup™ Trophy can only be touched and held by a very select group of people, which includes former winners of the FIFA World Cup and heads of state. So both Messi and Ronaldo have not been in a team that won the world Cup. But George Weah is the head of state of Liberia, that's the reason he can touch it.
Regulations state that the original trophy must remain in FIFA’s possession and cannot be won outright, the team winning the FIFA World Cup™ retains the authentic trophy temporarily and is then permanently awarded the tournament edition trophy, the FIFA World Cup™ Winner’s Trophy (which is gold-plated, rather than solid gold, and engraved with the year, host country and winners of the respective event). This, of course, can be touched by anybody.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola is an extraordinary opportunity for people to take in a piece of football history and share their passion for the sport with each other. The emotions of seeing the original FIFA World Cup™ Trophy will stay in football fans’ memories forever.
