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The original FIFA World Cup trophy arrived this Monday at the Freedom Tower in Miami, where it was displayed for free for eight hours as part of the city's debut as a host for the 2026 World Cup, according to the agency EFE.
The piece, designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga and usually housed in Zurich, Switzerland, was displayed under a glass case from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Liberty Tower Museum, located at 600 Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami.
The exhibition is part of the FIFA Museum's temporary display "Unity – The World's Game," which includes historical objects, interactive stations, and immersive installations about the global history of football.
Among its sections, the "Rainbow of Shirts" stands out, a mural featuring T-shirts from the 211 member associations of FIFA, and "Legacy of Champions," dedicated to the winning teams of the men's and women's World Cups.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Marco Fazzone, director of the FIFA Museum, and Madeline Pumariega, president of Miami-Dade College (MDC), the institution that manages the Freedom Tower.
Pumariega emphasized the significance of the moment: “The most iconic trophy in the world is at the most iconic monument in Miami. Today, the original World Cup trophy arrived at the Freedom Tower of MDC, providing our community with a unique opportunity to view a symbol recognized by billions of people around the globe.”
The FIFA Museum also emphasized on its official website that the event "provides a unique opportunity to closely witness the most coveted prize in the world of football."
Admission to the exhibition was free, although it required prior online reservations through the FeverUp platform.
The trophy on display has a history marked by theft and mystery. The first World Cup trophy, the Jules Rimet Cup designed by Abel Lafleur in 1930, was stolen in London in 1966 during a public exhibition. The replacement trophy, made of 18-karat solid gold, was stolen in Brazil in 1983 and, according to later confessions, was melted down. Since then, champions receive a gold-plated replica.
The event served as a prelude to Miami's debut as a World Cup host. Hours later, the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens—capable of accommodating nearly 65,000 spectators—opened its doors for the city's first match, Saudi Arabia against Uruguay (Group H), at 6 p.m. local time.
The event holds special significance in Miami because Florida is the state with the highest population of Uruguayan origin in the U.S., with over 16,000 residents according to the latest Census, and Miami-Dade County is home to the largest Uruguayan community in the country.
The FIFA Fan Festival at Bayfront Park (301 Biscayne Boulevard) was also open until 9 p.m. for fans who did not attend the stadium.
Miami will host a total of seven matches in the 2026 World Cup, including a quarter-final on July 11 and the third-place match on July 18, with teams such as Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay among those that will take the field at Hard Rock Stadium.
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