The Incredible History of the World Cup / La increíble historia de la Copa Mundial _ 5 minutes of Spanish (English version) + Podcast

 

Hi! How’s it going?

Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening, depending on where you are or what time you’re listening.

Welcome to podcast 272. Thanks for being here.

So… I guess we’re continuing with the 2026 World Cup in Mexico…?

Exactly, and today we have an incredible story from the World Cup.

Listen to the Podcast

Incredible? What happened?

Hmm… Is it possible to lose and win a World Cup in the same year?

Is it possible to lose and win a World Cup in the same year? Losing and winning… in the same year… that’s complicated.

It turns out that, in 1966, England hosted the FIFA World Cup. But a few months before the tournament, a very serious problem arose.

Did they lose a game?

No. They lost the trophy!

What do you mean, they lost the cup?

Yes. Someone stole the Jules Rimet Trophy and demanded money in exchange for its return.

I can’t believe it! And what did the organizers do?

They were so worried that they secretly asked a silversmith named George Bird to make a replica of the trophy.

So, did the original cup—the 4-kilo silver trophy plated with gold and inlaid with lapis lazuli—disappear forever?

No. This is where the real hero of the story comes in.

A soccer player?

No. A dog.

A dog?

Yes. A mixed-breed collie named Pickles.

And what did Pickles do?

One day, while out walking with his owner, he found a suspicious package under some bushes.

And was the cup inside?

Exactly. Thanks to Pickles, the World Cup reappeared.

What a stroke of luck!

Pickles

And there’s more. That same year, England won the World Cup, and their captain lifted the original trophy.

So England lost the cup and won the cup in the same year.

That’s right. And it was all thanks to a dog named Pickles.

What a story! In soccer, something unexpected can always happen.

The cup, created by French sculptor Abel Lafleur and depicting Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, was used from 1930 to 1970.

After winning its third World Cup in Mexico in 1970, Brazil kept the cup as its permanent possession.

But in 1983, the trophy was stolen in Rio de Janeiro and was never found. The thieves confessed to having melted it down.

That s too bad!

Since 1974, the trophy designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga has been in use. It depicts two human figures holding up the world and is made of more than six kilos of gold with a malachite base.

How much is it worth?

Based on the weight of the gold alone, about 780,000 dollars, not counting its historical value.

And does the winning country get to keep it?

No. The champion receives a copy or replica. The original trophy remains in Switzerland, and no country can keep it permanently.

Let’s go over some vocabulary:

Trofeo – trophy

Argentina levantó el trofeo en 2022.
Argentina lifted the trophy in 2022.

Sostener – to hold

The figures hold the world.

Fundir – to melt

Los ladrones confesaron haber fundido el trofeo.
The thieves confessed to melting down the trophy.

Quedarse con – to keep, to retain  

Brasil se quedó con la copa en 1970.
Brazil kept the cup in 1970.

What about you? Do you watch any soccer?

As we say in Spanish: “La pelota está en tu cancha.”

In other words, it’s your turn to decide or take action.

In English, there’s a very similar expression: “The ball is in your court.”

We look forward to seeing you in Los Cabos or online at SpanishUp2U.

Thanks for listening.

See you soon.

Bye, bye.

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