Soccer fans lined up Saturday for a rare glimpse of the FIFA World Cup trophy, the solid 18-karat gold prize that has become one of the most recognizable symbols in sports.
The original trophy arrived in Seattle as part of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola, marking the first time many residents have seen the award in person ahead of the 2026 tournament, when Seattle will host World Cup matches for the first time.
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The trophy on display is not the first World Cup trophy, but the current version awarded since 1974. The original Jules Rimet Trophy was given permanently to Brazil after the team won its third World Cup in 1970. That trophy was stolen in 1983 and never recovered.
“The FIFA World Cup trophy is very precious,” said Erica Hanson, a Coca-Cola spokesperson. “It’s 18-karat gold, weighs about 13 pounds and is the only one of its kind.”
Winning teams do not keep the original trophy. Instead, they are presented with it during the championship ceremony before receiving a gold-plated replica to keep permanently. The original returns to the FIFA World Football Museum in Zurich, Switzerland, where it remains except during World Cup events and global tours.
The trophy travels with heavy security.
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“You don’t have solid gold around without somebody keeping an eye on it,” Hanson said.
For Jonathan Aguilar and Hephziba Hernandez, seeing the trophy felt like a full-circle moment. The Seattle-area couple got married in Mexico in June 2018 — during that year’s World Cup — with a soccer-themed wedding.
“I wanted to cry and scream and just punch the glass and grab the trophy,” Hernandez said, laughing. “It was amazing.”
Aguilar wore a soccer jersey under his suit at the ceremony. Guests signed a soccer ball instead of a traditional guestbook. The couple watched World Cup matches during their honeymoon in Costa Rica.
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This year, they plan to celebrate their eighth anniversary with a trip to Mexico in June, then return to Seattle to watch matches at Lumen Field.
“We worked really hard to get a ticket,” Aguilar said. “We can’t believe we’re going to be able to see a game here.”
The trophy tour previously stopped in Salt Lake City and Portland before arriving in Seattle on Saturday. It will remain in Seattle through Monday before moving to Bellevue Square on Tuesday, then continuing to Vancouver.
The tour is scheduled to visit 30 countries across 75 stops over 150 days leading up to the tournament.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be the largest in tournament history, with 48 participating teams. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19.
