World Cup Cup that will be erected this Sunday. Mandel NGAN/AFP The Argentine national team and Spain take the field this Sunday (19) to compete in the 2026 World Cup final in search of the most coveted title in football. But when the champions lift the cup, they won't just be lifting a trophy: there will be a piece made of solid 18-karat gold, with details in malachite, a semi-precious stone used in the base of the sculpture. WORLD CUP FINAL: see where to watch and time for Argentina x Spain ? The current World Cup cup was created in 1971, after Brazil definitively won the old Jules Rimet Cup by winning the World Cup for the third time, in 1970. The new trophy was presented at the 1974 World Cup, in Germany, and since then has been awarded to the tournament champions. The object is 36.5 centimeters tall, weighs approximately 6.175 kg and is made from solid 18-karat gold — an alloy that contains around 75% pure gold. The piece also has a circular base formed by two layers of malachite, a stone known for its green hue and natural designs. Despite the symbolic value, FIFA does not officially disclose the price of the cup. Experts estimate that the gold used in manufacturing alone represents a million-dollar sum, considering the international price of the precious metal. However, the historical and sporting value of the trophy means it is considered practically incalculable. 2026 World Cup Cup that will be erected this Sunday. JUAN MABROMATA/AFP The cup that the players lift does not stay with them Unlike what happened with the old Jules Rimet, the World Cup champion does not definitively keep the current trophy. After the awards ceremony, the winning team receives a gold-plated replica to keep. The original cup remains under the responsibility of FIFA and is used in official World Cup ceremonies. Each champion's name is engraved on the bottom of the trophy, on a spiral band that wraps around the base. To this day, space for the names of champion teams is limited. When all spaces are filled, FIFA must decide whether to make a new change to the base or create a new trophy model. Who created the World Cup Cup? The design was chosen by FIFA in a competition that received more than 50 proposals from different countries. The winner was Italian Silvio Gazzaniga, who imagined a piece representing two human figures holding planet Earth. According to the concept of the sculptor, who died in 2016 at the age of 95, the cup symbolizes the union between athletes and people through football. Argentina, current world champion, and Spain are now competing for the right to raise this symbol — a piece that, in addition to representing sporting achievement, carries a combination of gold, history and tradition. The 2026 World Cup Cup will be carried inside a Louis Vuitton trunk. REUTERS/Amy Tennery