FIFA World Cup arrives in Sri Lanka to kick off global tour

Reuters: The FIFA World Cup trophy arrived in Sri Lanka for the first time, as the most coveted prize in global soccer started a 54-country tour ahead of the 2018 tournament in Russia.

The trophy arrived late on 23 January and was unveiled by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at two separate events, with the participation of French 1998 World Cup-winning midfielder Christian Karembeu. “We are privileged to be selected as the first country on the FIFA trophy’s international tour,” Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara told a gathering as the World Cup was put on display for the public.

The trophy was scheduled to be taken to Male in the Maldives late yesterday evening.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe (R), Former France national soccer player Christian Karembeu (2nd R) and Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara (2nd L) pose for photographs with the FIFA world cup trophy which starts a 50 country global tour from the Sri Lankan capital at a ceremony in Colombo, Sri Lanka January 24, 2018. REUTERS

Christian Karembeu of the 1998 World Cup winning football team of France takes a selfie with President Maithripala Sirisena holding the 2018 FIFA World Cup Trophy, which arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday (23 January) night. Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara, Football Federation of Sri Lanka President Anura De Silva and members of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka were also present