The FIFA World Football Museum in Zurich, Switzerland, opened to the public at 12.00 noon on Sunday 28 February, being attended by new FIFA President Gianni Infantino. As the new home of football history, the museum packs more than 1,000 artefacts into 3,000m-squared of exhibition space – including both FIFA World Cup trophies, which were delivered earlier this week by two-time World Cup champions Renate Lingor and Cafu.

“We are delighted that we are now ready to open, and visitors will be very welcome from noon onwards,” said Stefan Jost, the museum’s Managing Director.

“The museum has something for people of all ages. Visitors can expect a unique mix consisting of stories documenting the fascinating history of international football as well as interactive stations. We want to bring people closer to football and to make the museum a vibrant meeting place for all football and sports fans.”

Before the opening, former Swiss national team player Stéphane Chapuisat joined TV and radio host Roman Kilchsperger, FIFA’s Acting Secretary General Markus Kattner, and Stefan Jost at a small opening ceremony for a group of invited guests at 10am. Earlier this week the museum received over 130 media representatives from around the world, and the corresponding coverage was largely very positive.

FIFA has invested CHF 30million in the museum, which also houses a library, sports bar, café, bistro, a 180˚ cinema and a giant pinball game that will appeal to guests of all ages. The two World Cup Trophies, previously locked away in a Zurich bank vault, will also be on permanent display in the museum’s FIFA World Cup™ Gallery.

“We are very proud that these two trophies - probably the most important team-sport trophies, have now found a new home in our museum,” said Jost.

“They will be a magnet for every single one of our visitors. We have no doubt that, with the FIFA World Football Museum, we have created another must-see for tourists in the city of Zurich.”

The museum’s foundation stone was laid in April 2013, with construction approved a year later. As well as CHF 30 million spent on the museum, FIFA has invested CHF 110 million renovating and reconstructing the ‘Haus zur Enge’ building in Zurich’s Enge district. The rental contract with the owners of the building lasts until 2055.