The ultimate prize in world football arrives in the UAE as the 2018 FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola rolls into town on Wednesday, February 21.

The tour began in 2006 in the lead up to the 2006 World Cup in Germany and now the 18-carat gold trophy will be on display in Dubai ahead of this year’s tournament in Russia.

Standing 36.8cm tall and weighing just over 6kg, only Heads of State and FIFA World Cup winners are permitted to hold the trophy, which is permanently displayed in the FIFA World Football Museum in Zurich. Aside from the final draw of the FIFA World Cup the trophy tour is the only other time it is removed from its display.

His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Hareb, Secretary General Dubai Sports Council, expressed his delight in bringing the World Cup Trophy to Dubai, highlighting the emirate’s global position as a prestigious touristic and economic location, as well as its multicultural demographic.

“We at Dubai Sports Council are pleased to be working with The Coca-Cola Company to bring the World Cup Trophy – that many football legends dream of winning – to Dubai and highlight the city’s most iconic attractions – marrying the city’s prestigious positioning and the trophy’s significant value,” Hareb said.

World Cup hero: Pele with the trophy

Two different trophies have been handed to winners in the history of the tournament. The current FIFA World Cup trophy was first lifted by Germany, winners of the 1974 World Cup, after the original Jules Rimet trophy was handed permanently to Brazil to celebrate their third World Cup triumph – their iconic 4-1 thrashing of Italy in the 1970 final in Mexico.

Designed by Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga, the iconic golden trophy is inspired by two elements, people and the world. Winning countries are engraved onto the base of the trophy, which was added following the 1994 tournament.

Unlike the original Jules Rimet trophy, teams who win the World Cup three times are given a gold-plated replica to keep.

Germany was the first nation to win the new trophy three times with their 1-0 win over Argentina.

In attendance at the trophy stop in Dubai will be HE Saeed Hareb the Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, along with Saudi Arabian international Mohammad Al-Sahlawi.

Footballing icons, Pele, Wayne Rooney and Andrea Pirlo have attended previous World Cup Trophy Tours.

WORLD CUP WINNERS

1930         Uruguay
1934         Italy
1938         Italy
1950         Uruguay
1954         W. Germany
1958         Brazil
1962         Brazil
1966         England
1970         Brazil
1974         W. Germany
1978         Argentina
1982         Italy
1986         Argentina
1990         W. Germany
1994         Brazil
1998         France
2002         Brazil
2006         Italy
2010         Spain
2014         Germany