SEOUL: The official championship trophy for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 arrived in the South Korean capital Seoul on Wednesday as part of a global promotional tour ahead of the tournament kick-off on 20 November.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy visits 51 countries and territories around the world, including 32 countries with teams participating in the World Cup.
The trophy will be unveiled to the media at Hyundai Seoul, a major shopping mall in Yeouido, western Seoul, and to the public at the same venue on Thursday.
Former Brazilian star Rivaldo, a member of the 2002 World Cup winning team, traveled to Seoul with the trophy as an honorary ambassador for the tour.
South Korea will make their 10th consecutive appearance at the 2022 Championship and their 11th appearance overall. Japan co-hosted the 2002 World Cup with Japan.
Under FIFA rules, only former champions and heads of state may touch the trophy awarded to World Cup champions, but under the rules of the sport’s global governing body, it remains the property of FIFA. .
The team that wins the tournament temporarily retains the real trophy and is awarded a tournament version of the trophy, later called the Winner’s Trophy, for permanent possession.
The real trophy is made of solid gold and features two figures holding the globe aloft. The Tournament Edition is gold plated and engraved with the year, country and winner of the tournament.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, which first started in 2006, kicked off in Dubai this May.
