What could be more exciting for a fan than laying their eyes on football’s most coveted prize for the first time?

This dream is about to come true for many followers of the beautiful game, as the FIFA World Cup Original Trophy will be coming for the first time to Papua New Guinea on the 1st February 2018.

The Original Trophy, which is usually kept at the FIFA World Football Museum in Zurich, will visit more than 50 countries on six continents, and will make stops in Solomon Islands and Tonga as well as Papua New Guinea.

The journey began in Moscow on 9 September at the Luzhniki Stadium, where the captain of the newly-crowned world champions will lift the trophy in just over nine months’ time.

The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour is a milestone which beautifully showcases how much enthusiasm the greatest tournament on Earth can generate, which football fans in Papua New Guinea will get the chance to to be part of come February.

PNGFA President David Chung said Papua New Guinea is privileged and honoured to have the Original World Cup Trophy visit and PNGFA is excited to host the trophy and embrace this opportunity for the nation’s football loving communities.

“It gives an opportunity to fans and public to see the trophy, especially for those who cannot make it to Russia to watch the games.

“Though we did not qualify, it is the association’s dream that one day we will qualify and fulfill our wish to be alongside the greatest teams in the world.  In the meantime we have to work harder and invest deeper into development,” Chung said.