It is arguably the most famous trophy in sports and on Wednesday morning it formally arrived on Canadian soil for the first time.
To the delight of youth soccer players, awaiting media and curious bystanders, the FIFA World Cup trophy arrived in Toronto on a private branded plane to kickstart the final leg of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola.
Before arriving in North America, the trophy had visited all of the other continents and traveled more than 100,000 kilometers. When the tour is complete, the trophy will have visited 83 countries and traveled 138,902 kilometers since the tour began at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, on Sept. 21, 2009.
Upon its arrival near Pearson International Airport, the trophy was greeted by Canadian Soccer Association president, Dr. Dominic Maestracci, and Jason Kenney, Minster of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, who was officially representing Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
The importance of the moment was not lost on Maestracci, who believes the trophy’s debut in Canada will continue to develop the sport nationwide.
“I think what is important is for the Canadian people to have the chance to see the trophy,” said Maestracci, who believes Canada’s inclusion came out of the impact the trophy’s visit will have on advancing the sport across the nation. “I think Canada was lucky enough to be chosen by FIFA as one of the countries. They chose only 32 countries outside Africa and I think it’s a good thing for the development of our sport.”
But the other featured attraction was Canadian-Somali and Juno (Canadian equivalent to a Grammy) award-winning music artist K'naan, whose chart-topping song Wavin’ Flag is the promotional anthem for the World Cup, which begins June 11.
K'naan, who has been accompanying the trophy around the world, was disappointed about not being able to take the solid 18-karat gold trophy back to his birthplace of Somalia, but was happy to bring it to his adopted home of Canada.
“It’s quite amazing; it’s nice to be here," K'naan said. "If I couldn’t take it home, then it’s nice to take it to my other home. It’s beautiful to be here.”
The trophy, which arrived from New Zealand via Seattle, will spend Wednesday in Toronto at various private and public functions before doing the media circuit on Thursday with stops at various local TV stations. It’s expected to receive a tremendous reception, especially at the full-capacity public viewings at the headquarters of FIFA rights-holder CBC later Wednesday.
It's that interest, coupled with Canada’s sixth-place ranking on the list of total World Cup ticket purchases, that Maestracci hopes will help the country secure future FIFA tournaments, especially the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“We already sent a letter to FIFA, and now we know [the decision] will be—it was supposed to be in October 2010—but it will be in March 2011 when FIFA will choose a country that will receive the 2015 Women’s World Cup and Canada put its bid for that," Maestracci said. "We find Canada has a very good chance. Now we are back again [after losing the 2011 bid to Germany] and I think this [trophy visit] will help us.”
From Toronto, the trophy will head to Miami and Houston to complete the North American portion of the tour.
