World Cup Trophy Arrives in South Africa

Byron Lukas

The Coca-Cola Company is bringing football’s most coveted prize to South Africa, giving local fans a rare chance to see the FIFA World Cup Original Trophy up close ahead of FIFA World Cup 26.

The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola lands in Johannesburg on 30 and 31 January, before moving to Cape Town on 1 February. This marks the Tour’s first return to South Africa since 2018 and its second stop on the African continent after Egypt.

For South African football supporters, the visit offers a powerful moment to reconnect with the global game and its most iconic symbol.

A rare moment for local fans

“We’re excited to bring fans closer to the heart of the action with the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola,” said Mickael Vinet, Vice President of Global Assets, Influencers and Partnerships at The Coca-Cola Company.

“This year’s tour gives fans a unique opportunity to experience the emotions of football up close, starting with the excitement and anticipation that comes from seeing the FIFA World Cup Original Trophy in person.”

The tour celebrates the full emotional journey of football, from build-up and belief to pride and shared joy, all through direct fan engagement.

A historic build-up to FIFA World Cup 26

FIFA World Cup 26 is set to be the largest edition in the tournament’s history. Hosted across Canada, Mexico and the United States, the event will feature more teams, more matches and expanded fan experiences.

As part of its global journey, the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola will visit 30 FIFA Member Associations across 75 stops and more than 150 tour days. Fans around the world will have the chance to see the trophy before the tournament kicks off.

“The FIFA World Cup Trophy is recognised globally as the greatest symbol in sport,” said Romy Gai, FIFA Chief Business Officer.

“For two decades, our partnership with Coca-Cola has united fans through the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola. This tour is especially meaningful as we celebrate 20 years of the Trophy Tour while preparing for the biggest FIFA World Cup in history.”

He added that across five editions, the trophy has now visited 182 of FIFA’s 211 Member Associations.

More than celebration

The South African leg of the Tour will also focus on community impact. Coca-Cola will work with local teams and bottling partners to support sustainability initiatives, including packaging collection and recycling efforts.

Coca-Cola has held exclusive rights to the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola for more than two decades. The brand’s partnership with FIFA dates back to 1976, and Coca-Cola has served as an official FIFA World Cup sponsor since 1978.

For fans, the visit offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness football history up close, right on home soil.