Many viewers were surprised after spotting President Donald Trump holding the FIFA World Cup trophy ahead of the final between Argentina and Spain, with some questioning whether he was breaking one of football’s most famous traditions.
Although many fans believe only World Cup-winning players are allowed to touch the iconic trophy, FIFA’s rules are actually a bit broader.
According to FIFA, the original World Cup trophy may only be handled by a very limited group of people: heads of state, FIFA officials, and players who have won the World Cup. As the sitting President of the United States, Trump is among the few people authorized to hold it.
The moment sparked debate online, with some fans insisting the trophy should only be touched by champions. However, Trump’s appearance with the trophy did not violate FIFA’s protocol.
The trophy is one of the most protected prizes in sports. After the final, the winning team’s captain is presented with the original trophy on the field, and players are allowed to celebrate with it in the dressing room. Afterward, FIFA takes the original trophy back into its custody.
Instead of keeping the solid gold original, the champions receive a gold-plated bronze replica, known as the FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy, while the original remains FIFA property and is stored at its headquarters in Zurich.
FIFA’s strict handling rules stem from the history of the original Jules Rimet Trophy, which was stolen multiple times. It famously disappeared before the 1966 World Cup in England before being found by a dog named Pickles, and after Brazil permanently received the trophy following its third World Cup title in 1970, it was stolen again in 1983 and has never been recovered.
The current World Cup trophy is transported under tight security and handled with extreme care, making unauthorized contact exceptionally rare. Past incidents involving celebrities such as Salt Bae in 2022 and Rihanna in 2014 sparked criticism because neither fell into FIFA’s approved categories.
While Trump’s appearance holding the trophy surprised many fans, it falls within FIFA’s long-standing rules that allow heads of state to handle football’s most prestigious prize.
