The third edition of the trophy tour launched in Brazil on 12 September a top Corcovado mountain, one of the highest points in the city of Rio de Janeiro with the Maracana stadium in the distance.
After Brazil Tahiti is the second country, from a list of 88 to be visited during the 267-day duration of the tour, to welcome the trophy before it travels to Fiji and Vanuatu in this region before heading on to South America and beyond.
Accompanying the trophy to Tahiti is OFC Ambassador and former FIFA World Cup champion Christian Karembeu who will take part in the festivities which have been organised by Coca-Cola’s local representatives La Brasserie de Tahiti in partnership with the Fédération tahitienne de Football.
A one-day tournament has been organised to celebrate the trophy’s debut visit to French Polynesia with 24 teams competing in two categories – U-10 and U-16 – at Stade Pater. There is also ample opportunity for the people to have their photo taken with the trophy as a souvenir of its visit.
The tour then makes its next stop in Fiji where the football association has worked closely with the tour organisers to provide plenty of fun and games around the visit.
Fiji FA President Rajesh Patel says it’s the first time the trophy will make an appearance in Fiji, and he’s extremely proud to be welcoming such an iconic piece of world football.
“We’re very thankful to FIFA and Coca-Cola for thinking of our small nation, with ambitions of reaching the World Cup one day,” Patel says.
“They are making sure that football is surely for the World and bringing the trophy to the people is bringing the game to them too.”
A full-on agenda of activities is planned at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Saturday, 21 September to welcome the trophy with one of the draw cards the 2pm match-up between the Southern All Stars and Western All Stars. The teams will be coached by Marika Rodu and Ravinesh Kumar respectively with the line-ups having been decided by a public voting system.
The Just Play and Grassroots programmes will also be on display during Saturday’s festivities.
The final Oceania stop-over is a flying visit to Port-Vila in Vanuatu where the trophy will be displayed in Parliament.

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