KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The FIFA World Cup trophy made a stop in Kansas City on Sunday as part of a North American tour ahead of the tournament later this summer.
The trophy is made of 18-karat gold, weighs about 14 pounds and stands just under 15 inches tall. Only champions, heads of state and designated FIFA officials are allowed to touch it.
“You always see the pictures of it and all the celebrations leading up to the World Cup, but you never think you'll get the opportunity to see it,†said Adam Ekstrom, who came from Iowa to see the trophy.
Fans lined up for photos with the same trophy the world's best will lift this summer. Winning teams don't keep the original. They get a gold-plated bronze replica to take home.
“Probably smaller than I thought it was going to be, but considering that it's solid [gold] and seeing how much it weighs, we were actually kind of figuring out how much it's worth considering how expensive gold is,†said Marty Gilley, a local soccer fan.
The gold is worth about a quarter of a million dollars, but the trophy's true value is priceless. For fans who got to see it up close, it was a preview of what the World Cup could mean for Kansas City when matches arrive.
“I don't think Kansas City knows what's coming. It's going to be huge. It's going to be awesome. We're going to have the biggest teams in the world here,†said Leo Carrillo, who came out on Sunday to see the trophy.
Fans said Kansas City is ready for its moment on the global stage.
“I think we're going to show them that we aren't just a flyover state anymore,†Gilley said.
“We come for the moment, so we're definitely going to step up and we're going to shine,†Carrillo said. “Kansas City is like a little-known secret to the world. We're going to show up and show out and we're going to make ourselves known to the rest of the world.â€
After Sunday, the trophy moves on to its next stop in Dallas. You can find out more about the World Cup trophy tour here: FIFA World Cupâ„¢ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
