ZURICH (AFP).- FIFA have found a long lost piece of the original World Cup which will become one of the major exhibits at its new museum to open next year.

The gemstone base of the trophy first awarded in 1930 was found last month, according to David Ausseil, creative director of the museum which is still being built in Zurich.

"We found this base in storage at FIFA. It is the original base of the Jules Rimet trophy in lapis lazuli," Ausseil said.

The 10 centimetre (4-inch) tall base has the names of the first four World Cup winners between 1930 and 1950. Uruguay and Italy each won the tournament twice in that time. The base was replaced in 1954.

Brazil was given the gold Jules Rimet trophy permanently after they won the World Cup for the third time in 1970. It was stolen in 1983 and has never been found. 

The new 3,500 square metre World Football Museum in the centre of Zurich is expected to open its doors in March, 2016.

FIFA, which was established in 1904, is also based in the Swiss city. It is hoping to get up to 300,000 visitors a year at the museum.


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