World Cup trophy arrives in Seoul

Football

Published: 24 Aug. 2022, 15:38

World Cup trophy arrives in Seoul

From left: Brazilian football legend and FIFA ambassador Rivaldo, former Korean national team stars Cha Bum-kun and Park Ji-sung, and Korean national team head coach Paulo Bento pose with the World Cup trophy at The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido, western Seoul on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

The FIFA World Cup trophy arrived in Seoul on Wednesday as part of its global tour ahead of the 2022 tournament that kicks off in Qatar in November.

The trophy was displayed at The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido, western Seoul, after arriving in Korea on its own plane as part of a 51-country tour that includes every nation that has qualified for this year's tournament.

Korean national team head coach Paulo Bento and football legends Cha Bum-kun and Park Ji-sung attended the event to celebrate the cup's arrival at the Hyundai, alongside 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup winner and Brazilian footballing legend Rivaldo, who traveled with the trophy as a FIFA ambassador.

At the 2002 World Cup, Rivaldo scored five goals for Brazil including the winner against Turkey in a group stage game at Munsu Cup Stadium in Ulsan and the equalizer against England in the quarterfinals at Shizuoka Stadium in Japan.

Three of Rivaldo’s five goals during the tournament were scored in Korea. Brazil went on to win the World Cup and Rivaldo took the silver boot, at the time known as the silver shoe.

“I am very happy to see the trophy again,” said Rivaldo. “The World Cup trophy is a dream for all and I am so happy that I had the chance to live that dream. The Brazilian national team is always prepared so we could win this year too, but I think that would make other countries jealous.”

Korean football legends Cha Bum-kun, left, and Park Ji-sung pose with the World Cup trophy at The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido, western Seoul on Wednesday. [NEWS1]

Park and Cha were more realistic about Korea's chances at the tournament.

“To be honest, it’s not going to be easy for Korea to reach the round of 16,” said Park. “But we never knew that Korea would reach the semifinals in 2002 either. So it’s all up to how the national team prepares. That will decide the national team’s results at the World Cup.”

“It’s good to dream big,” said Cha. “I hope that Korea reaches the quarterfinals this year.”

Brazilian football legend and 2002 World Cup winner Rivaldo poses with the World Cup trophy at The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido, western Seoul on Wednesday. Only a very small group of people are permitted to touch the World Cup trophy, including former winners like Rivaldo and heads of state. [NEWS1]

Made of solid gold and weighing 6.142 kilograms, the World Cup trophy is awarded to the winners of the FIFA World Cup but is later returned to FIFA, which replaces it with a gold-plated FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy.

The original FIFA World Cup Trophy can only be touched and held by a very select group of people, which includes former winners of the FIFA World Cup like Rivaldo and heads of state.

The FIFA World Cup Trophy will be on display at The Hyundai Seoul throughout Thursday, before leaving for the next stage of the tour.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]