For the first time since 2018, South African football fans are about to stand face-to-face with the ultimate symbol of global sporting glory. The FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola is officially returning to South Africa, bringing the original FIFA World Cup™ Trophy to local shores ahead of FIFA World Cup 26™.
The iconic trophy will be on display in Johannesburg on 30 and 31 January, before moving to Cape Town on 1 February, offering fans a rare and unforgettable opportunity to experience football history up close.
This highly anticipated visit marks South Africa’s return to the global tour for the first time in seven years and represents the second stop on the African continent, following Egypt.
Bringing fans closer to the heart of football
As anticipation builds toward FIFA World Cup 26™, Coca-Cola is once again placing fans at the centre of the global football narrative.
“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: Global Assets, Influencers and Partnerships at The Coca-Cola Company.
“This year’s tour offers fans an incredible opportunity to experience the thrill and connection of football up close. We are inviting fans to celebrate the full spectrum of emotions one experiences when watching a football match, starting with building excitement and anticipation by bringing the FIFA World Cup™ Original Trophy to South Africa.”
For many South Africans, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime moment — a chance to witness the solid-gold trophy that has crowned the greatest champions in football history.
A milestone tour ahead of the biggest World Cup ever
The timing of the tour is especially significant. FIFA World Cup 26™ is set to be the largest tournament in the competition’s history, hosted across three nations — Canada, Mexico and the United States — and featuring more teams, more matches and more celebrations than ever before.
As part of its global journey, the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola will travel to 30 FIFA Member Associations, across 75 stops and more than 150 tour days, giving fans around the world a rare opportunity to see the original trophy in person.
“The FIFA World Cup Trophy is recognized around the world as the greatest symbol in sport, and Coca-Cola is one of the world’s most recognized brands,” said Romy Gai, FIFA’s Chief Business Officer.
“For two decades, our partnership with Coca-Cola has united fans and brought them the magic of the FIFA World Cup through the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola.”
He added that this edition of the tour is particularly meaningful, as it marks the 20th anniversary of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola, while building momentum toward the biggest FIFA World Cup in history.
“Over five editions, the iconic trophy has visited 182 of our 211 Member Associations,” Gai noted.
More than a tour: a platform for positive impact
Beyond celebration, the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola also serves as a platform for community upliftment and sustainability.
During the South African leg of the tour, The Coca-Cola Company will collaborate with local teams and bottling partners to support sustainability initiatives, including packaging collection and recycling efforts, reinforcing the brand’s broader commitment to environmental responsibility.
A legacy partnership spanning decades
Coca-Cola’s relationship with FIFA dates back nearly half a century. The company has had a formal partnership with FIFA since 1976 and has been an official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™ since 1978.
As a longstanding partner, Coca-Cola holds the exclusive rights to the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola, enabling millions of fans worldwide to engage with football’s most revered prize ahead of each tournament.
A trophy like no other
The original FIFA World Cup™ Trophy is awarded to the tournament winners but remains in FIFA’s possession. Crafted from solid gold, weighing 6.175 kilograms, and designed in 1974, the trophy depicts two human figures holding the globe aloft — a powerful symbol of unity, triumph and global excellence.
Only a select group — former FIFA World Cup winners, Heads of State and the FIFA President — are permitted to touch the original trophy. Winning teams are presented with it on the field before receiving the permanently awarded FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy, made of gold-plated metal.
For fans, simply standing in its presence is enough to feel the weight of football history.
A once-in-a-lifetime moment for South African fans
As the countdown to FIFA World Cup 26™ accelerates, the arrival of the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola offers South Africans an extraordinary opportunity to connect with the passion, emotion and legacy of the world’s biggest sporting event.
For full details on the global tour, visit cokeurl.com/trophy-tour, and for updates on the South African leg, visit Coca-Cola South Africa’s official website.
