As the 2026 Fifa World Cup prepares to kick off on Thursday, the world’s elite players are vying for more than just glory – they seek a shimmering prize whose bullion value has eclipsed all previous benchmarks.
The trophy set to be hoisted in the US state of New Jersey next month is now worth 157 per cent more than it was during the 2022 tournament in Qatar, owing to a historic rally in gold prices.
The raw gold value of the statue currently stands at around US$713,000 – a staggering jump from around US$277,000 just four years ago, according to data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG).
Introduced in 1974, the iconic trophy contains 4.93kg (about 174 ounces) of pure gold. When first cast, its material value was estimated at US$25,000 – a sum that has since surged nearly thirtyfold, the London-based financial markets group said on Tuesday.
“While the trophy itself is ultimately priceless to the players who lift it, its rising melt value offers a striking illustration of how sharply gold prices have increased in recent years – and why the metal continues to play a central role in periods of uncertainty,” said Debajit Saha, lead analyst at LSEG Metals Research.
The surge in the trophy’s intrinsic value mirrors a broader commodity rally that saw gold climb to record highs as institutional investors sought shelter from escalating geopolitical tensions, inflation concerns and economic uncertainty. Central banks have also emerged as aggressive buyers, helping to underpin demand.
