The head coach of the Argentina national team, Lionel Scaloni, was responsible for bringing the World Cup to the main stage of the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, D.C. The world champion entered in a black suit and eye-catching white gloves, a practice that raised questions among viewers. According to the Argentine News Agency, while Scaloni is one of the individuals authorized to touch the trophy (along with the winning players, heads of state, and FIFA officials), wearing gloves during the draw ceremony is a common practice during transport and presentations to prevent fingerprints from being left on the gold surface. Presented by model Heidi Klum, Scaloni recalled the dramatic final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and left a message for the new competition: "Our team, despite the difficulties, kept believing and at no point did we think that match could end badly," the coach recalled in Spanish. The message was a sign of hope: "In the new World Cup, we will try to keep competing and never give anything up as lost," Scaloni concluded before sitting down with the other coaches. FIFA protects the original trophy with great care, as its value is estimated at $20 million. Additionally, the original trophy is quickly removed from the pitch after a victory to be replaced by a bronze replica covered in gold. By strict rules, only the winners, heads of state, and FIFA officials are authorized to touch the trophy.
