Coca-Cola has brought the original FIFA World Cup Trophy to India after 12 years as part of the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola, positioning the move as a high-visibility brand and consumer engagement initiative ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. As the exclusive partner of the Trophy Tour, Coca-Cola continues one of the longest-running partnerships in global sport, spanning over five decades.
The India leg began with a FIFA Charter Landing and the official unveiling at the Taj Mahal Hotel. The event drew key stakeholders including Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, FIFA legend Gilberto D’Silva, sports historian Boria Majumdar, and Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia leadership led by President Sanket Ray. Mandaviya linked the Tour to India’s broader sports-led development vision under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while Ray highlighted how policy-led expansion of sports infrastructure is creating stronger brand-consumer touchpoints.
Globally, the Trophy will visit 30 countries across 75 stops over more than 150 days. The 18-carat solid gold Trophy, weighing 6.175 kg and designed in 1974, remains accessible only to former World Cup winners, Heads of State and the FIFA President. Coca-Cola has also embedded its #MaidaanSaaf initiative into the Tour, focusing on structured waste collection and recycling at public events.
In Kolkata, where football has strong cultural and commercial resonance, the Trophy Tour is expected to significantly boost brand recall and engagement. Market watchers say Coca-Cola’s football-led activation aligns well with Kolkata’s passionate fan base, strengthening emotional connect and reinforcing the company’s positioning in one of eastern India’s most influential sports-driven consumer markets.
