The exhibition at Vapriikki looks back at the history of both the men’s and women’s World Cups. On display are the tournaments’ biggest stars, unforgettable matches, dramatic moments, and surprising heroes—both on the field and behind the scenes. Photos, videos, trophies, jerseys, and a wealth of other artifacts set the mood.
- Everyone who follows football has their own favourite teams and players. The exhibition will reveal astonishing stories from the pitch and behind the scenes of the tournaments. It highlights unforgettable legends as well as names that have faded into obscurity after the tournaments. A large part of the World Cup’s great appeal lies in the stories of the heroes and villains who emerge during the tournaments, says researcher Henrik Mattjus.
The exhibition also reveals how the World Cup tournament came to be and which phenomena and global events the tournaments have reflected. Through the history of the competition, visitors can gain a broader understanding of the development of football as a sport and the World Cup as a global event. And even though Finland has not yet qualified for the FIFA World Cup, the exhibition also features an overview of the history of the Finnish national teams.
- In addition to the star-studded lineup and spectacular performances, the exhibition explores how football became the world’s most-watched single-sport competition because of the determined efforts of the international governing body, says Mattjus.
The exhibition is being organized as an international collaboration. Most of the artifacts are on loan from the FIFA Museum in Zurich and the International Football Museum in Rome. On display is a diverse collection of items related to the history of the tournament. Among the items on display are the jerseys of Diego Maradona and Gordon Banks, the Golden Ball awarded to Ronaldo in 2002, and Tinja-Riikka Korpela’s 2025 match jersey. Items related to Finnish soccer have been loaned by the Tahto Sports Museum and the Postal Museum.
- The items on display offer a fascinating glimpse into how sports equipment has changed over the past century. Visitors to the exhibition will gain a good understanding of the role that equipment plays in the development of the sport, Mattjus notes.
Football World Cup Through the Ages Exhibition at Vapriikki 16.4.2026 - 1.11.2026
