One of the most prestigious trophies in sports is making its way through Oklahoma City this week.
As part of an international tour, the FIFA World Cup trophy will be in OKC for 24 hours between April 22 and 23, and fans can get a close look at the 18-karat gold trophy free of charge at Scissortail Park.
"We have a lot of soccer fans in Oklahoma City," OKC Mayor David Holt said. "I would say this is a sport that's really growing in influence all across the United States and certainly that's true in OKC."
A man takes a picture diving for a goal during the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.The FIFA World Cupª Trophy is pictured during a tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.The FIFA World Cupª Trophy is pictured during a tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.Wil Fisackerly takes a pictured with the FIFA World Cupª during the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.Everardo De Loera takes dives for a goal during the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.Levi Mullins dives for a goal during the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.People wait in line to see the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.People take a pictured with the FIFA World Cupª Trophy during the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.People wait in line to see the FIFA World Cupª Trophy during the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.Xavier Rivera takes a picture during the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.People visit the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.1 / 11Soccer fans snap photos with FIFA World Cup trophy at OKC tour stopA man takes a picture diving for a goal during the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.1 / 11Soccer fans snap photos with FIFA World Cup trophy at OKC tour stopA man takes a picture diving for a goal during the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.2 / 11Soccer fans snap photos with FIFA World Cup trophy at OKC tour stopThe FIFA World Cupª Trophy is pictured during a tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.3 / 11Soccer fans snap photos with FIFA World Cup trophy at OKC tour stopThe FIFA World Cupª Trophy is pictured during a tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.4 / 11Soccer fans snap photos with FIFA World Cup trophy at OKC tour stopWil Fisackerly takes a pictured with the FIFA World Cupª during the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.5 / 11Soccer fans snap photos with FIFA World Cup trophy at OKC tour stopEverardo De Loera takes dives for a goal during the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.6 / 11Soccer fans snap photos with FIFA World Cup trophy at OKC tour stopLevi Mullins dives for a goal during the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.7 / 11Soccer fans snap photos with FIFA World Cup trophy at OKC tour stopPeople wait in line to see the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.8 / 11Soccer fans snap photos with FIFA World Cup trophy at OKC tour stopPeople take a pictured with the FIFA World Cupª Trophy during the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.9 / 11Soccer fans snap photos with FIFA World Cup trophy at OKC tour stopPeople wait in line to see the FIFA World Cupª Trophy during the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.10 / 11Soccer fans snap photos with FIFA World Cup trophy at OKC tour stopXavier Rivera takes a picture during the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.11 / 11Soccer fans snap photos with FIFA World Cup trophy at OKC tour stopPeople visit the FIFA World Cupª Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday April 22, 2026.And while Holt was excited to be near the roughly 13-pound award, he could not touch it. In fact, the list of people who are allowed to touch the trophy is incredibly limited. Which is why the tour brought along someone who could.
To touch the trophy, you must either be FIFA President Gianni Infantino or a previous winner of the tournament. Marco Materazzi earned that right in the 2006 World Cup when he helped Italy lift the trophy, and the Italian was the one showing the trophy around on Wednesday morning.
Materazzi took his time to thank Holt for his investments in the sport in Oklahoma City. Holt said the city is en route to becoming a soccer hotbed.
"I'm very excited to be here," Materazzi said. "I want to say thank you to Mayor Holt for what he did for soccer, or football, in OKC."
Investments in the city include the new $120 million stadium to be opened downtown and host the USL team in the 2028 season. Holt also said the city has invested about $30 million into youth soccer facilities and worked with the U.S. Soccer Federation to open futsal courts around the community.
While the new stadium will not be open in time to host a World Cup match this summer, Oklahoma City sits in close enough distance to two host cities: Dallas and Kansas City. Maybe the next time there is a World Cup in the United States, OKC could be a host city, but that probably won't happen for another couple of decades.
Until then, Holt is set to continue growing the sport in the city.
"There really are just two sports that are played everywhere: soccer and basketball," Holt said. "Certainly, we feel very comfortable in our position in the sport of basketball, but we want to make sure we have just as strong a position in the sport of soccer."
The World Cup trophy will be at Scissortail Park on Wednesday and Thursday for fans to take pictures and appreciate the sacred prize.
"It's crazy for it to be here in Oklahoma City," said Jose Zuñiga, a soccer fan who visited the trophy at the park with his family. "As a small city, we're growing."
The 2026 FIFA World Cup starts on June 11, with the United States team making its debut the following day in the Los Angeles area.
"We do know something about trophies here in Oklahoma City as of late," Holt said. "But I fully recognize that the most famous trophy in the world is the World Cup trophy and it happens to be just a few feet away."
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC soccer fans snag up-close look at FIFA World Cup trophy on OKC tour stop