On Sunday, January 4, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi hosted a high-level delegation from the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) as part of the official promotional tour for the 2026 World Cup.
The visit marks the second stop of a historic global journey that will see the original World Cup trophy travel to 30 countries and 75 different locations worldwide.
The tour, organized in partnership with Coca-Cola, celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the “Trophy Tour” and serves as a major international platform to build excitement for the upcoming 2026 tournament. The next World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This edition will be historic for several reasons, including the expansion of the tournament to 48 teams and the fact that it marks the first time a country will have hosted the event three times.
During the meeting, President Al-Sisi highlighted that the selection of Egypt as an early stop on the tour underscores the nation’s growing prominence on the global sports stage. He noted that the visit provides a unique opportunity to bolster sports tourism and promote athletic culture among Egypt’s youth. The President expressed his hope that the 2026 tournament would be a resounding success, particularly as it prepares to accommodate the largest field of participating teams in the history of the competition.
The FIFA delegation praised Egypt’s modern sports infrastructure and its proven track record in hosting major regional and international events. The delegation included several prominent figures, such as 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year and Italian legend Fabio Cannavaro, alongside senior FIFA officials and regional executives from Coca-Cola.
The meeting was also attended by Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Ashraf Sobhi, and the President of the Egyptian Football Association, Hani Abou Rida. Following the official reception, the tour continues its mission to broaden the base of global sports participation and engage the public ahead of the historic three-nation tournament in North America.
AK/fss/abj/APA