The Fascinating History Behind the FIFA World Cup Trophy

It is one of the most watched sporting events. The FIFA World Cup. To put it in context, the every four years it occurs, more than 3 billion people tune in to watch.

FIFA stands for the Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Made up of more than 200 national football associations from Brazil to Canada to the United States to England, it is a truly unifying event.

Founded in 1904 in Paris, France, FIFA has obtained a considerable and fascinating history since its existence.

But perhaps some of the most fascinating facts about FIFA involves what many if not all nations long to victoriously win:

The FIFA World Cup Trophy.

The History of the World Cup Trophy

Weighing 13.6 pounds and made of 18 carat gold, the World Cup Trophy is made up of almost 11 pounds of gold. That equates to $550,000 making it one of the most valuable trophies in sports.

Because of this, extremely strict protocols for handling it are in place.

• The only people allowed to touch the trophy with bare hands are strictly World Cup winners, the Heads of State, and the FIFA president. Anyone else must wear gloves.
• The winner never takes home the real trophy but a replica that is gold plated and made of bronze instead. The real trophy is kept at the FIFA museum in Zurich, Switzerland where it is under high security.

Maybe one of the strangest and interesting facts about the World Cup trophy involves a heist that took place and its remarkable recovery involving a dog named Pickles.

The Heist

March 20, 1966

It was just four months before the 1966 FIFA World Cup tournament held in England.

The World Cup trophy (previously known as the Jules Rimet trophy from 1930–1970) was on display at an exhibition in London’s largest Methodist Church — The Westminister Central Hall and not far from the Houses of Parliament. There were guards guarding the trophy around the clock.

Surely safe and secure, right?

Or so it was thought.

In the middle of a church service at the Methodist church, one of the guards walked past the case that displayed the World Cup Trophy and noticed something alarming.

The display case had been forced open. Someone had stolen it!

The back door was also forced open with the screws and bolts removed. The thieves made off with the trophy before anyone realized what happened.

The Ransom

Just a day after the theft, there was a phone call demanding a ransom for the trophy for 15,000 pounds (equal to $20,186.70) and precise instructions on how to complete the ransom. To prove the thieves had indeed stolen the trophy, a parcel was sent containing a piece of lining that could have only come from the Jules Rimet trophy.

The thieves threatened that if orders were not followed, the trophy would be melted down.

Pickle’s heroic find

Just a few days later, a man named David Corbett took his dog, Pickles, for an evening walk. It was to be a routine walk. Little did Corbett know what would occur that would have a significant impact in FIFA history.

Under a hedge, Pickles noticed a parcel, sniffed, and refused to leave it.

At first, Pickle's owner likely thought it was nothing and urged Pickles to move on. But Pickles was persistent. Now curious himself, Corbett peeked inside the parcel and there it was!

The stolen Jules Rimet trophy.

He immediately took it to the police station.

Becoming an overnight celebrity, Pickles received more attention and congratulations for finding the trophy than his owner did.

Pickles received a medal given by the National Canine Defence League while Corbett received payouts totaling 5,000 pounds from various sponsors and insurers of the cup.

Both even got to attend the player’s celebration dinner!

This year's World Cup will occur on June 11 - July 19.

Will you be tuning in to watch?

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