Earlier, Pakistan welcomed the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola in 2018. Sharing his views about the coveted trophy’s tour to Pakistan, Coca-Cola Pakistan & Afghanistan Vice President Fahad Ashraf said: “For Coca-Cola, the real magic of the FIFA World Cup is connection - sharing your passion for the game, beyond boundaries; in a space where unity, diversity and inclusion thrive. We are thrilled to have brought these values and the excitement of the world’s most loved football tournament to Pakistan, a nation of great football fans.”
The FIFA World Cup Trophy’s day-long tour commenced with its arrival at the Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, where it was received by Pakistan women’s football team captain Hajra Khan and Fahad Ashraf, who were accompanied by FIFA World Cup winner Christian Karembeu. This was followed by a trophy unveiling ceremony and a celebration highlighting the heritage and future of Pakistan’s youth and women in football as hosted by Hajra Khan.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour event showcased Pakistan’s rich diversity with players and youth represented from across Pakistan’s different football playing communities including Fizza Batool, Hazara Women’s Football Captain, Ali Changazi, Head Coach Hazara Football Academy, Muhammad Waheed from Malir, Muqaddas Iqbal from Orangi Town and Suha Hirani from the Karachi City Football Club.
Ahmad Hanif Orakzai, IPC Secretary and PSB Vice President, who attended the event as chief guest, also shared his views, saying, “The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour to Pakistan carries great symbolic power and belief in the future of Pakistan’s sporting prowess. The 220 million people of Pakistan have a growing passion for football and events like this will continue to inspire fans, the youth and more sports stars.”
The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour in Pakistan also included a fan only event with show stopping musical performances by Coke Studio sensations Shae Gill, Hassan Raheem, Abdullah Siddiqui and Talal Qureshi, bringing together the unifying power of music and sport.
Pakistan has a historical association with football and to mark this affiliation, limited edition artisan hand-painted footballs inspired by Pakistan’s celebrated truck-art heritage were presented to the visiting delegation.
The trophy tour is part of Coca-Cola and FIFA’s goal to visit each of FIFA’s 211 member associations by 2030. This year, the trophy is visiting 51 countries ahead of the competition in November 2022.