The original FIFA World Cup trophy arrived in Lima, Peru this Wednesday, as part of a world tour, across 88 countries.
The coveted cup arrived at Lima’s Jorge Chavez International Airport, and was taken to a press conference in the San Isidro district shortly after.
A random drawing of 14,000 soccer frenzy fans had the opportunity to take a picture with the trophy in person, but it remained untouched by the fans. Why, you may ask? El Comercio, a popular Peruvian newspaper, states that World Cup winners and heads of state are the only ones who can physically touch the prize. As a result, Peruvian President Ollanta Humala was the only one to hold the cup this Wednesday. It was presented to him at the government palace. According to Andina, before unveiling the cup, the President said: “all the Peruvians want to see their national team in the World Cup finals after a decades-long absence.”
The FIFA World Cup Trophy Photo by: Elise Sikes/Pinterest
The trophy has been the target of various thefts in the past. For this reason FIFA has had to alter its safety regulations: “The original FIFA World Cup Trophy cannot be won outright anymore, as the new regulations state that it shall remain FIFA’s own possession. Instead, the FIFA World Cup winners are awarded a replica which they get to keep as a permanent reminder of their great triumph. These gold-plated replicas are referred to as the FIFA World Cup Winners’ Trophies.”
Lima Tours:
16 Days / from $3869
11 Days / from $2769
The trophy will be on display in the Parque de la Exposición in Lima’s historical center, until Friday, January 24, when it will fly to Quito, Ecuador. Its final stop will be Brazil, who will host the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which is scheduled to begin this June.
Hendrika is Belgian but she considers herself a citizen of the world as she has lived in many different countries before moving to Peru. She fell in love with South America after her first visit to the continent in Bolivia, and has since then spent a lot of time traveling in the area. She especially enjoys Peru for its diversity, delicious food, and rich history.
