Lego unveils 8.5-meter World Cup trophy built from 1.36 million bricks — with a secret inside

Lego has unveiled a towering 8.5-meter replica of the World Cup trophy built from 1.36 million bricks to mark the 2026 North and Central America World Cup.

Lego and FIFA completed the installation of the giant trophy replica in the plaza outside Rockefeller Center in New York on Tuesday, according to the AP and USA Today.

According to Lego, the structure required 9,200 pounds (about 4,713 kilograms) of bricks.

A team of 59 designers, engineers, model makers and technicians worked on the project, which took eight months from development to completion and required 7,000 hours of assembly.

The AP described it as one of the largest structures Lego has ever built, noting that while the trophy is iconic on the outside, something special is hidden inside.

The top of the trophy opens to reveal a hidden compartment containing a miniature soccer pitch bearing the tournament's logo, along with a small Lego minifigure holding a tiny trophy.

The installation is scheduled to remain on display through July 19.

Christophe Vietti, Lego's lead designer, told the AP: "The symbolism of the trophy and the fact that every kid wants to grab it and lift it up made us decide immediately to build the trophy. I said kids, but I'm pretty sure adults want to have the same experience."