The World Cup was first played in 1930, with Uruguay winning the tournament that they hosted. The competition was the brainchild of the FIFA president at the time, Frenchman Jules Rimet.
The trophy was named after Rimet from 1946 until 1970. A replacement trophy was commissioned by FIFA for the 1974 World Cup and this is the trophy used ever since.
The soccer authorities received 53 submissions from sculptors in seven countries before Italian Silvio Gazzaniga was awarded the gig.
The trophy is 36.5 cm (14.4 in) tall and is made of 6.175 kg (13.61 lb) or 30,875 carats of 18-karat (75 percent) gold.
The trophy, purely in terms of its gold content, was valued ahead of the 2018 World Cup at $161,000. At auction, it could be worth $20 million today due to its historical significance and fame.
There have been doubts cast over claims that the trophy is made of solid gold with renowned British chemist Sir Martyn Poliakoff arguing that it would be too heavy to lift if that were the case.
He said that the trophy must be hollow, as it would weigh 70–80 kg (150–180 lb) if it were solid gold.
How Much Money Did the World Cup Make?
There is a guaranteed $9 million for each team that qualifies for the World Cup with a total prize fund of $440 million.
This may sound a lot of money but the World Cup in Qatar is expected to bring in $7.5 billion to the Gulf State, so the prize fund is small change.
Each country involved is given $1.5 million ahead of the tournament to cover preparation costs and then the prize money goes up by millions for every round won, with the eventual winners being awarded $44 million for their efforts.
Full breakdown of payouts leading up to the final
Group stage: $9 million per team
Round of 16: $13 million per team
Quarterfinals: $17 million per team
Fourth place: $25 million
Third place: $27 million
Runners-up: $30 million
Winners: $42 million
How Many Years Are There Between World Cups?
There have always been four years between World Cup finals except during World War II, when soccer was suspended. Italy won the trophy in 1938 and there wasn’t another tournament until 1950, when Uruguay triumphed over Brazil.
Will the World Cup Be Every 2 Years?
There has been a suggestion that the World Cup could take place every two years and FIFA president Gianni Infantino has favored this despite criticism from the soccer world.
There were worries that player fatigue would worsen with a biennial World Cup but Infantino has argued that it would be good for the game.
He said: “In Europe there is resistance because there is a World Cup every week with the leagues and the best players in the world, but that isn’t the case for the rest of the world: it’s a month a year, and we need to find a way to truly include the whole world in football.”
Infantino has insisted that it was FIFA who had proposed this and it was not his suggestion.
He said: “[It] is not my idea but FIFA’s—and a feasibility study has been requested by 166 nations.
“The presumptions are clear: 88 per cent of countries, including the majority of those in Europe, have asked for the study and the study tells us that from a sporting point of view, a World Cup every two years would work. There would be fewer international matches but with a greater impact.”
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