‘For us, the World Cup trophy means something beyond words’

Bangla Press Desk:   The joy of the general public knew no bounds as the iconic FIFA World Cup Trophy made its fourth visit to Bangladesh on Wednesday.

Young fans especially were overwhelmed by the sight of the trophy on display at the Radisson Blu Dhaka. Eighth-grade student Zarin Hasan Zara, a Brazil supporter and a fan of Neymar, described the moment as unforgettable.

“This opportunity is not just special for me, but for every Bangladeshi football fan,” she said. “For us, the World Cup trophy means something beyond words. Seeing this golden trophy in person is incredibly beautiful and very special.”

Kajal Modak, a student who travelled from Rajshahi via Mymensingh after winning access through Coca-Cola’s campaign, was wearing an Argentina jersey and waited for nearly two hours for the grand occasion.

“I confirmed my ticket by scanning a Coca-Cola bottle. I came to Dhaka just for this,” Kajal said. “My entry time was 1pm, so I arrived by 11am considering the traffic. I’ve been waiting for a long time, but I don’t feel tired at all. Seeing the World Cup trophy up close is a once-in-a-lifetime moment.”

With that said, the anticipation of the fans was comparatively dim in contrast to the other three occasions when the golden trophy made a visit to this football-mad country.

Excitement was highest among the Bangladesh fans prior to the 2014 and 2022 World Cups when spectators lined the street in front Radisson Blu Dhaka to catch a fleeting glimpse of the trophy.

However, this time the number of fans was much less, and no explanation was found as to why that was the case, despite campaigning by Coca-Cola ahead of the trophy’s one-day tour.

The original FIFA World Cup Trophy, standing 36.8 centimetres tall, weighing 6.175 kilograms and crafted from 18-carat gold with a malachite base, landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10am aboard a chartered flight from India.

Accompanying the trophy was Brazil’s 2002 World Cup–winning midfielder Gilberto Silva, who arrived in Bangladesh for the first time as part of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola.

Soon after arrival, the trophy was unveiled at the airport amid tight security and flashing cameras.

Gilberto stood beside Bangladesh national football team captain Jamal Bhuyan as the black cover was lifted to reveal football’s most iconic symbol.

Skipper Jamal called the occasion a very special day for the country and its football. He said the World Cup trophy does not come to Bangladesh every day and admitted he was personally excited to see it in person for the first time after years of watching it on television.

BFF boss Tabith said it was a wonderful morning for Bangladesh, and thanked FIFA and Coca-Cola for recognising Bangladesh and bringing the iconic trophy back, adding that football is a sport that unites people beyond language, culture and borders.

The exhibition concluded around 6pm, and later that night the trophy departed Dhaka aboard a chartered flight bound for the Republic of Korea, making Bangladesh a one-day stop on the global tour.

BP/TD