Football’s ‘Crown Jewel’ ‘The FIFA World Cup Trophy’ Makes Its U.S. Stop.

Thousands of football fans got a rare, up close-and-personal look at the coveted ‘jewel in the crown of world football’ when the three-month, 28-nation FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola made its U.S. stop in Los Angeles.

The authentic, solid-gold sports icon was on exhibit for the day at Universal Studios in Hollywood, giving the public a chance to see the newly renovated FIFA World Cup Trophy, which was physically updated late last year. The trophy is seldom seen in public outside the nation winning each FIFA World Cup. It is the first time the trophy has been in the United States since 1994, when the USA hosted the FIFA World Cup and the championship game was held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola marks the most extensive exhibition of the trophy ever. The tour began in January in the African country of Ghana and will end in Rome, Italy, in April. The itinerary includes countries well known for their football passion and others where the sport’s foothold might not be as obvious – and where the chance to see football’s most prized possession is decidedly rare.

“We built our 2006 football programs around the theme ‘We All Speak Football,’ which captures the passion that people everywhere have for the game,” said Santiago Blanco, director, Hispanic Marketing, Coca-Cola North America. “That was very evident today as people of all ages and origins turned out to enjoy an intimate viewing of the revered FIFA World Cup Trophy, which was truly an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Along with bringing the FIFA World Cup Trophy to the United States, Coca-Cola also announced plans to tie its national youth soccer program, Copa Coca-Cola, to this year’s FIFA World Cup. Winners of the 2006 Copa Coca-Cola national tournament will travel to the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany(TM) to participate in the Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup(TM) International Flag Bearers Youth Program and the Coca-Cola Referee Escort Program.