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FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour Stops in Dallas

By Derek Fleming - Freelance Writer

Nov 8, 2022

Governor Greg Abbott welcomed the FIFA World Cup Trophy on Sunday as the iconic and legendary solid-gold award is presented for fans to view ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Dallas and Houston are host cities for the world’s largest sporting event. The trophy will visit a total of 51 nations and for the first time ever, will make stops in all 32 participating countries.

“It is an honor to have the FIFA World Cup Trophy here in Texas, especially because in 2026 Dallas and Houston will host the FIFA World Cup,” said Abbott. “The Lone Star State is a premier sports destination with passionate sports fans. As the hosts of Super Bowls, conventions, and other large events, Dallas and Houston are experienced in the logistics of world-class events. We look forward to welcoming FIFA, its sponsors, and its fans here in Texas in 2026.”

The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour is presented by Coca-Cola and kicked off on May 11 in Dubai, UAE. The trophy has been used by FIFA and presented to the winner since 1974. The trophy is 24-carat gold and has a base of malachite, a semi-precious dark-green stone. It is considered one of the most valuable trophies in the world, with an estimated value of around $20 million.

“As football fans around the world gear up to support their teams, Coca-Cola is thrilled to offer fans the opportunity to experience the trophy ahead of the tournament,” said Brad Ross , vice president of Global Sports & Entertainment Marketing and Partnerships at The Coca-Cola Company.

“The real magic of the FIFA World Cup exists with fans believing in their teams and showcasing their passion for the game.”

Soccer is the fastest-growing sport in the United States. A 2019 study by Gallup Sports suggested that 52% more Americans consider themselves fans of the sport than in 2012.

In Texas, the popularity of the sport has translated into fans filling stands and the development of local talent through clubs such as FC Dallas and Houston FC, both of which made the MLS playoffs this season on the strength of homegrown talent.

FIFA intends the trophy tour to eventually be seen by all 211 member countries, a goal the organization hopes to meet by 2030. For billions of fans worldwide, the opportunity to see the most coveted trophy in the sport is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“The FIFA World Cup Trophy is one of the greatest symbols in sport,” said FIFA Chief Business Officer Romy Gai. “Bringing it on tour gives us a unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on the fantastic communities around the world who love the beautiful game. The trophy tour – which will end back in Qatar, our amazing hosts – highlights our commitment to making football truly global as we realise the dreams of our fans and bring the joy and excitement of the FIFA World Cup to their doorsteps, together with our long-standing partner Coca-Cola.”

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World Cup trophy makes a stop in Dallas just weeks before tournament starts in Qatar

The World Cup starts in two weeks, and while soccer fans are excited for the start for the tournament, there was something else they were pumped about Sunday, when the World Cup trophy stopped in Dallas.

DALLAS - The World Cup starts in two weeks, and while soccer fans are excited for the start for the tournament, there was something else they were pumped about Sunday, when the World Cup trophy stopped in Dallas.

The 2022 World Cup will be airing on FOX 4 here in North Texas and on FOX stations across the country, but as ready as soccer fans are for the tournament, many in North Texas are looking even further ahead.

A trophy only held by the best-of-the-best in soccer was in Dallas on Sunday ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

"I just can’t express how excited I am," 9-year-old soccer fan Carolina De La Torre said.

Soccer fans like Carolina and her 11-year-old brother, Emiliano, are ready.

The trophy was in town for Coca-Cola’s promotion tour prior to the World Cup in Qatar beginning November 20.

MORE: World Cup Coverage on FOX 4

"I’m looking forward to the World Cup, man," soccer fan Taylor Jergensen.

But looking ahead to 2026, there are two Texas cities, Dallas and Houston, that will be hosting World Cup matches.

"This is like the Super Bowl on steroids," FC Dallas President Daniel Hunt said.

Hunt, who’s also chairman of Dallas’ 2026 World Cup bid, says we’ll be guaranteed four matches at AT&T Stadium, but there could be semifinals matches, and even a final.

"And we’ll know in third or fourth quarter of 2023 what other matches we’ll get," Hunt explained.

"I will watch every game that I can get on my TV at any given moment," Jergensen said.

Jergensen is ready for this year’s matches, but he’s even more ready to buy tickets for the 2026 games in Dallas.

"I’ll mortgage my house. I don’t care, I’ve got to go," he added.

Retired soccer greats are also in town for the trophy tour.

"When I look to that trophy, I feel joy, I feel proud," FIFA World Cup Champion Kaka said.

While some fans hope one day they’ll be in that category.

How Coca-Cola Brought ‘Real Magic’ to Fans Along the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour

For Coca-Cola, the “real magic” of global tentpole events like the FIFA Men’s World Cup lies in the opportunity to bring people together for simple moments of connection. The beverage giant has been an official sponsor of the tournament, which attracts billions of viewers, since 1978. And ahead of this year’s event, the brand launched a 51-country FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour to unite soccer (“football,” if you must) buffs around their shared passion point, and make inroads with the next generation of consumers.

Coca-Cola’s Real Magic platform, which “invites the world to celebrate the real magic of humanity,” served as the foundation of the tour, kicking off in Dubai in May and wrapping shortly before the start of the quadrennial tournament, taking place Nov. 20 to Dec. 18 in Qatar. This marks the first time the iconic, solid-gold trophy has traveled to all 32 of the tournament’s qualifying nations, giving fans around the world a rare opportunity to see it up close and personal.

From the FIFA World Cup archives:

• Sponsorship: Visa Spreads World Cup Fever With Interactive Lounges and In-Stadium Experiences
• How Top Brands are Engaging Fútbol-Loving Consumers

To get in on the action, consumers in Trophy Tour markets could purchase specially marked FIFA World Cup Original Taste or Zero Sugar 20-ounce bottles of Coca-Cola. By scanning the QR code on the packaging or registering with a code located under the cap, fans could sign up to receive two tickets to their respective stop.

In November, as part of the final leg of the tour, Coke made its way to Dallas, which served as the only two-day stop in North America. The brand took over the multilevel Lighthouse Artspace to engage attendees in photo ops, meet-and-greets with soccer legends, projection-mapped imagery, sampling, games and, of course, what many fans viewed as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the FIFA World Cup trophy.

“Dallas is where we are really leaning in as one of the sites of the 2026 World Cup, and where there’s a significant consumer base that is multicultural and young and really passionate about the sport,” says Ryan Keen, senior marketing manager at Coca-Cola.

The program launched with a welcome event for media at the DFW International Airport, where a Coca-Cola archives touchscreen experience was installed in the international terminal. Then it was on to Lighthouse Artspace to fire up fans. There, the trophy was front and center, positioned for photo ops, as attendees arrived. But there was plenty more to explore.

The footprint at Dallas’ Lighthouse Artspace offered a video gaming lounge, foosball, photo ops and more.

The activation was packed with activities designed to fuel fans’ passion for the sport and their teams, and touchpoints that conveyed the history of Coke’s World Cup sponsorship. An ink studio offered temporary tattoos that dared attendees to commit to the promises they made if their team won the tournament, with a number of funny phrases to choose from. A video gaming lounge featured stations to play FIFA , while foosball tables and other soccer-themed games were also on tap. An activation by Panini America, a platform for sports trading cards and sticker collections, was also part of the mix.

Plus, a Coca-Cola archives display showcased memorabilia and artifacts from previous World Cups the brand participated in. The physical display was supplemented by the same digital archives installation available at the airport, which offered timelines, galleries and other historical data. And finally, fans could partake in a photo op highlighting all of the different jerseys and teams sponsored by Coca-Cola in this year’s tournament.

Content-wise, Coke captured plenty of its own footage, with plans to repurpose it to reach other consumers. And that’s not to mention all of the user-generated content the Trophy Tour yielded, along with a boost from influencers and media partnerships with organizations like Bleacher Report.

Creating eco-conscious experiences throughout the tour was another essential element of the campaign, and part of Coca-Cola’s broader sustainability strategy. All 20-ounce products were served in the brand’s 100-percent rPET (recycled plastics) bottles, an offering that is typically exclusive to Texas markets. Robust recycling programs at each event collected bottles to be remanufactured into new ones in partnership with Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages. In addition, a variety of items used along the tour were donated to local Boys & Girls Clubs, including gaming systems, foosball tables and TVs.

“By tapping into these worldwide events, it helps build on that excitement that piques the interest of maybe newer and younger consumers,” says Keen. “Coca-Cola is all about bringing people together and nothing does that more than sports and other passion points that we typically have aligned ourselves with. Like the Olympics, these are some of the longest-standing partnerships that exist not just for us, but for any brand, and that core human insight and emotion has been consistent, and why we continue to invest behind that.” Agency : Momentum Worldwide.

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Nov 06, 2022 | KADS

Kaká Brings the FIFA World Cup Trophy to Dallas

FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour made a special stop in Dallas at the Addison Airport.

Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite – aka: Kaká – presented the FIFA World Cup at a special VIP and Media event hosted by the new Galaxy FBO at the Addison Airport.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kaká (@kaka)

The invitation-only event, part of Coca Cola’s “Believing is Magic” global campaign, was one of only 3 stops in United States. Over 200 guests attended the event at Galaxy FBO’s new 39,000 sqft. hangar to see the one-and-only gold FIFA World Cup, which is valued over $20M. Representatives from FIFA, Coca-Cola, Dallas based Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, Arca Continental, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, dignitaries from Town of Addison and Dallas were also among the attendees. Arlington, Texas was named as one of 11 U.S. cities to host the next – 2026 World Cup, and is a contender for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match.

The Trophy Tour visits all 32 participating countries before the tournament starts as a way to build excitement ahead of the World Cup. An Airbus A320-232, registered G-POWM was chartered from the British carrier Titan Airways for this year’s Trophy Tour. The aircraft has been repainted in a special Coca Cola livery, with an image of the trophy on its tail. Even with Airbus’ wingspan of 117 feet, there was still a lot of space available on Galaxy FBO’s Addison ramp, and the air operations were not interrupted.

Galaxy FBO team wishes the United States Men’s National Soccer Team a successful tournament this year in Qatar, and hope to see them bring the World Cup Trophy back home.

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FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola resumes

Following a send-off event at the Home of FIFA in Switzerland, the trophy resumed its globetrotting journey in Seoul, Korea Republic

Ahead of Qatar 2022™, for the first time ever, the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola will visit all 32 nations that have qualified for the tournament

Simultaneously, FIFA is launching its Spotlight: Your Dreams global campaign with legends and creators, including social media sensation Noah Beck

The second and final leg of this year’s FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola kicked off today in Seoul, Korea Republic, following a send-off event at the Home of FIFA in Zurich starring 2002 FIFA World Cup™ winner Gilberto Silva. The spellbinding journey – which, for the first time, is offering all 32 qualified nations the chance to see football’s biggest prize up close – will finish in Doha, Qatar just a few days before the greatest show on Earth gets under way on 20 November 2022. Thanks to Coca-Cola, FIFA’s longest-standing partner, the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola has been bringing the most iconic trophy in the world to fans globally since 2006. In total, the 2022 edition will stop in 51 countries and territories, taking Coca-Cola and FIFA one step closer to the goal of the trophy visiting each of FIFA’s 211 member associations by 2030.

Colin Smith, FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer – World Cup, said: “The first phase of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola was a fantastic success, engaging the broader public through the magic of the largest football festival on Earth.”

“By, for the first time, visiting all the nations that have qualified for the FIFA World Cup, the momentum of the Trophy Tour will continue to build, giving fans of all ages a taste of the excitement to come – and we hope they will join us in Qatar later this year for the ultimate celebration of the beautiful game.”

Simultaneously, FIFA is launching its Spotlight: Your Dreams campaign with an announcement from Noah Beck, a former collegiate football player turned social media sensation, who is the global ambassador for the campaign. FIFA Legends at several tour destinations will be sharing their dreams – past, present and future – and fans will be able to create their own “Dream Cam” moments in an augmented-reality photo experience. Emerging artists from football and beyond, commissioned and spotlighted by FIFA, will make guest appearances on-site to showcase their own FIFA World Cup-themed artwork. FIFA is also set to give fans around the world the stage to share their FIFA World Cup dreams in the form of fan art, via social media, in a contest that will conclude at the end of the tour. FIFA+ , FIFA’s brand-new, world-class digital platform created to connect football fans across the globe, will be home to the “Dream Gallery” – the hub for all campaign information, influencer and fan content and other interactive features.

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Sneak Peak: How Coca‑Cola Will Show Football Fans That ‘Believing is Magic’ With FIFA World Cup 2022™ Campaign

As anticipation builds for the November kickoff of the FIFA World Cup 2022™ in Qatar, Coca‑Cola is celebrating the passionate journey of football fans through the “Believing is Magic” global campaign.

The brand today kicked off the integrated, digital-driven campaign, which will unfold over the coming months, by unveiling a suite of digital films capturing the full extent of fans’ devotion for their beloved teams. The spots show the outlandish promises many fans would make if their team could win the FIFA World Cup™—from getting a tattoo, to shaving their head, to running to work every day—while inviting viewers to share their own promises for possible inclusion in Coca‑Cola packaging, digital content or outdoor creative. 

The “Believing is Magic” campaign also will include: 

• The FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca‑Cola, which is bringing the solid-gold Original FIFA World Cup™ Trophy to 51 countries and territories. 
• A unique digital hub where fans around the world can compete and predict winners of FIFA World Cup™ matches, connect to social platforms and share emotions, excitement and memories.
• An exclusive partnership with Panini, the official licensed sticker album of the FIFA World Cup 2022™, on 14 exclusive player stickers fans can collect and trade physically and digitally. On the stickers found under Coca‑Cola labels, each footballer shares his unique “Believing is Magic” moment—from pre-match rituals to traditions, to inspirational stories—while inspiring and incentivizing football fans to share their own stories. Coca‑Cola is working with retail partners to create in-person opportunities for fans to come together, trade stickers and create digital albums.

We spoke to Brad Ross, VP of Global Sports & Entertainment Marketing for The Coca‑Cola Company, for more details on what fans can expect from the “Believing is Magic” campaign?

What most excites your team about the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022™?

These last few years have been challenging for major sports events. The Tokyo Olympic Games were postponed due to COVID-19, and the FIFA World Cup™ was pushed to November to ensure mild temperatures for teams and fans. Giving a region its first opportunity to host a FIFA World Cup™ is incredibly exciting. I was in South Africa when the first-ever FIFA World Cup™ was held on the African continent. We’re excited about the opportunity to democratize the sport and take it to all corners of the globe. We also see it as the world’s coming out party after years of lockdown. Ticket applications quadrupled previous FIFA World Cups. The world is clearly excited to celebrate a sense of normalcy again, and this is a big milestone. 

How is Coca‑Cola approaching its marketing campaign?

Coca‑Cola has partnered with FIFA since 1974, so our credibility in the football world—and our longstanding support of the game’s growth—is unmatched. We’ll simultaneously build on our longstanding legacy and innovate. This year’s campaign includes several firsts for us, including the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour’s first-ever visit to all 32 qualifying countries, to our first effort to build a digital community of football followers and inviting them to make their own “Believing is Magic” promises—and integrate them into our content—and to predict winners and scores throughout the tournament. We’re leaning into digital, and engaging influencers to create on behalf of our brands, more than ever. This is such an incredible opportunity to bring to life our brand values in an authentic way on a global stage, and I couldn’t be prouder of our team for building this program over the last three years.

How does ‘Believing is Magic’ support the Coca‑Cola ‘Real Magic’ brand platform?

“Believing is Magic” is the manifestation of “Real Magic” through the lens of football and the FIFA World Cup™. The beauty of this idea is that no matter if you think your team will win or lose, there’s an inherent and powerful belief. We’ve seen, time and time again, the power of believing David can beat Goliath. Who would’ve thought Croatia could reach the finals in 2018? As a fan, we have to always believe anything is possible. Even if, on paper, a team shouldn’t make it through the group stage, we can believe. That’s where the magical dichotomy of Coca‑Cola—one of world’s oldest and most storied brands but one that’s equally young at heart—comes to life. When you consider the brand’s deep ties to football and authentic connection to the sport’s most passionate fans, this is one of most compelling platforms we’ve had in a long time.

Music is once again a major component of Coke’s FIFA World Cup™ Campaign. What’s unique about this year?

It all started with “Wavin’ Flag”, our anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa. Music is the biggest passion point for Gen Z, and consumers no longer enjoy entertainment in silos. Music is synonymous with Coca‑Cola, football and FIFA—all of which bring people together in culturally relevant ways— so we wanted to continue to celebrate this synergy while bringing something new and different to fans within the concept of “Real Magic” and with a clear connection to the Coke Studio global music platform. We’ll have more to share about this incredibly exciting program in the coming weeks. 

Coca‑Cola is presenting the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour for the fifth consecutive time. Why is this such a powerful asset for the brand, and what’s new this year?

The FIFA World Cup™ Trophy is the symbol of the world’s largest sports event, and the Trophy Tour provides us with a unique opportunity to combine the love for our brands with the passion for the world’s biggest game. It’s also our first touchpoint of the “Believing is Magic” campaign in most markets. The unique opportunity to reach fans for six months before the FIFA World Cup™ is something no other brand has. 

This year, for the first time ever, we’re bringing the ‘Real Magic’ of the trophy to all 32 qualifying FIFA World Cup™ nations in the three months leading up to the kickoff of the tournament. In previous editions of the Trophy Tour, we saw that the excitement in countries that qualified for the FIFA World Cup™ was at another level. We’re also visiting 12 nations we’ve never been to before, bringing our total visited football nations to 182 since 2006. 

Seeing fans and consumers enjoy an only-Coke-can-do brand experience after lockdown is very special. In many countries, Trophy Tour events are the first Coke-branded experience since 2019, so expectation and excitement is high. 

What opportunities does the timing shift present?

The duality of first post-pandemic event of this scale, and the late-year timing, is truly special. We’ll be heading into the most festive time of year, when life starts to slow down a bit and people should have more time and energy to come together and celebrate. 

Specifically for fans in the United States, the time zone difference should help in terms of watching matches live. The trifecta of the U.S. men’s team qualifying for Qatar and the anticipation of both the FIFA Women’s World Cup champions defending their title next year and the U.S. hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ will no doubt generate additional excitement. We hope the tournament will signal the beginning of a new normal, and what better way to do so than by bringing the world together on such a grand stage. 

Stay tuned for more details on the Coca‑Cola “Believing is Magic” campaign.

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Lighthouse Artspace presents FIFA Trophy World Tour

Lighthouse Artspace will present the FIFA Trophy World Tour. Visitors can get their photo taken with the FIFA World Cup Trophy when it arrives in Dallas during the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola.

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Alexi Lalas: What Jesús Ferreira must do at World Cup, and ‘huge’ Texas influence on USMNT

Lalas spoke to the dallas morning news ahead of the u.s. roster reveal, and the large contingent of texans on the men’s national team ahead of the 2022 fifa world cup in qatar..

By Tommy Magelssen

7:00 AM on Nov 8, 2022 CST

The United States men’s national soccer team’s World Cup roster will be revealed Wednesday afternoon, and there is expected to be a Texas flair to it.

More than half-a-dozen Texans, FC Dallas players or FCD-exes are fighting for a roster spot ahead of the World Cup, which starts Nov. 20. The roster will be announced at 4 p.m. CST Wednesday.

The United States, which can select 26 players for its roster, faces Wales, England and Iran in the group stage , with high expectations after the disappointment of 2018, when the Stars and Stripes failed to qualify altogether.

In four years, the World Cup will come back to the United States as part of the United bid with Canada and Mexico, 32 years after the U.S. first hosted the tournament.

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Alexi Lalas, one of the most recognizable faces associated with U.S. soccer and member of the 1994 team, was in Dallas on Sunday and Monday as the FIFA World Cup trophy neared the end of its worldwide hype tour, so to speak. The trophy appeared at Lighthouse Artspace in downtown Dallas on Sunday and Monday as part of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour.

The Dallas Morning News spoke with the two-time World Cup participant and former Serie A player, who helped put American soccer starts on the map in the mid-90s.

Nearly 30 years later, the U.S. faces different challenges. Below is the transcript of The News’ Q and A with Lalas, edited for clarity. The full video can be watched above (if it doesn’t appear, disable your ad blocker).

Question: I’m expecting a number of Texans, FC Dallas players, FC Dallas-exes to be on this U.S. men’s national team. Are you expecting the same?

Lalas: I am expecting a huge Texas influence. And from a Dallas perspective, obviously we know all of the talent that has been produced and is being produced right now is fertile territory when it comes to soccer players. You’re talking about, obviously, Weston McKennie, Jesus Ferreria and the list goes on and on and on.

And there’s probably a whole lot coming down the pike, where you’re going to see in the future, maybe not for this World Cup but next World Cup in 2026. So yeah if you had to point out places on the map in the United States where soccer is not only booming from a domestic perspective in terms of the way that we look at it but also from an international perspective in the way that people look at it, Dallas will be right up there at the top of the list.

Question: Having half-a-dozen guys with connections to the region and the club, what does that mean for the national team?

Lalas: I think it means that you can have confidence that when you are scouting players and when you are looking for players that they will have been given the proper background, upbringing, resources, facilities, coaches and ultimately support.

And we talk about pathways, I’m sitting here today because because of the power of a World Cup, you know, obviously Coke and, you know, the (sponsor of the trophy tour) Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages bring me in here, that’s all fine and well, but the reason that they bring me in is because of the ‘94 World Cup. In order for me to play in the 1994 World Cup and go on to do other things, you know, I had to star in a World Cup to go and play in Italy, right?

We’re seeing players now — (defender) Chris Richards, you know, other types of players — that have this incredible direct pathway to opportunities, and to some big clubs and big leagues out there. And that’s wonderful. It makes me incredibly happy that they don’t have to play in a World Cup in order to get these international opportunities to play at some of the big clubs around the world.

Question: Let’s go back to the 1994 and the mindset of U.S. Soccer, which was hosting the World Cup for the first time. At the time, no host nation had ever not progressed to the knockout round. What do you recall about the mindset in the locker room and around the event?

Lalas: I mean, it was a different time when it comes to soccer in 1994. And the landscape was vastly different. It was a wild west type of time. But what I do remember is that that summer, fundamentally, not only changed my life, but changed the way that Americans look at soccer, and they saw what soccer can be. And I still to this day, I mean, walking down the street, and people will come up and say, ‘that 1994 World Cup changed the way that I think about soccer.’ And that’s wonderful.

Having said that, we were still so very young. And we have come a long way on and off the field with all the things that we’re talking about, whether it’s development of players, whether it’s Major League Soccer, and NWSL, and all the different things — because it’s not just ‘94, it’s also 1999 with the Women’s World Cup. All of those different things combined make us a soccer nation and a much more robust and educated and valuable soccer nation than 1994. So I think back about, yes, the pressure of getting out of the group, because the pressure wasn’t from an individual perspective, it was, you know, the future of soccer kind of rested on us doing well.

And you know, it wasn’t burdensome, we obviously took advantage of it. And I think that’s the other thing is recognizing the opportunity and the responsibility that comes with a World Cup, whether it’s this team that we’re going to see in Qatar or any other team, or the loss of that opportunity four years ago, when the U.S. men’s team didn’t qualify for the World Cup. We cannot afford to waste these incredible platforms.

Question: 20 years ago in 2002, the mantra was very much, ‘let’s show the world that we know how to play.’ Twenty years later, four years after missing the World Cup, what’s the mantra of this team?

Lalas: First off, it’s to make us believe again. Because four years ago, not qualifying for the World Cup, in my estimation, was the biggest failure in U.S. soccer history. And what it did was, it’s not something we wanted or needed. However, we used it in a way to go one step back in order to go two steps forward.

And a lot of the wonderful things that we are talking about right now, when it comes to some of this talent and the abundance of talent that we have, those seeds were planted back there in the worst possible times, right? And so we’re seeing the maturation and the growth of this, of the work that was done a long time ago. When it comes to today, you know, we are still trying to prove ourselves not just to the rest of the world, but also to our own country. We understand that we are not a traditional soccer country.

Having said all of that, I think we should be incredibly proud and really lean into the fact that while this is the sport of the world, we have a version of it that reflects who we are, as all national teams reflect their countries and cultures. This national team reflects our country and culture, and whether it’s the incredible diversity that we have, that American swagger that we have, or just the way that we have gone about producing a soccer culture in the United States that, yes, it looks different. It’s the same game. It looks different than around the world. But in that I think we find an incredible identity. And I think we can ultimately find an incredible power in it.”

Question: The 2022 team, what does U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter need from his striker, other than scoring three or four goals a game?

Lalas: Right? I mean, there’s a lot of pressure I think on a Jesus Ferreira, who I think is the incumbent, because he does not play the position in a traditional way.

And I think there’s a lot of consternation right now as to, ‘what is this going to look like here in a couple of weeks when the team takes the field?’ I think Gregg Berhalter believes in someone like Jesus Ferreira, even though he doesn’t play the position traditionally. I’m rooting for him because I always want to kind of see somebody that is being criticized, kind of rise above and shove it in people’s face. And I think he has the capacity to do that.

But make no mistake about it. He does not put the fear of God in anybody right now. World Cup can change the perception of teams, it can change the perception of players. And what what I hope is that once the World Cup is done that Jesus Ferreira has proven to the world, literally, that he is much more than the ‘false nine’ type of moniker that he has been saddled with, and that he can play the position maybe differently, but just as effectively, and that by the end of the tournament, when we are seeing him play, that he does put the fear of God in the opposition. And that only increases his value, by the way, from a Major League Soccer perspective, and obviously from an FC Dallas perspective.

Question: A guy who’s a little more known, he’s a Champions League player, Weston McKennie is from Little Elm. He counts Dallas has his home, he’s got a Dallas tattoo on him. The World Cup, (as an) established player for a nation that doesn’t have as much of a soccer history as some others, what’s his role on the team?

Lalas: I love Weston McKennie. I love him for the player he is, but I also love him for the person that he has and the personality that he has. And that swagger, that American swagger that he has, and he will run through a brick wall for you. He is the type of player that you want on your team. He’s also the type of player, that while he takes what he does seriously, he doesn’t take himself too seriously. And I love that wit that he has, that humor that he has, but he also understands when it’s time to get down and dirty, and he can certainly get down and dirty.

And I think the way that he plays, almost with a beautiful recklessness, I think a lot of people will gravitate to it when they see him. Because let’s be honest, in the World Cup, a lot of people are going to see him for the first time, while we know him and we watch him. I think a lot of people are going to really be drawn to the personality that he is and the way that personality comes out in the way that he plays with that type of, you know, beautiful recklessness that I talked about.

And I think that ultimately, when this World Cup is done, the value of Weston McKennie on the field is going to be realized, and that he is going to be a huge, huge part in whatever success this team has from a leadership perspective on and off the field. And also from an identity perspective. You know, I’m sitting here today and I can tell you all about what you know optics and aesthetics are in a World Cup and the way that he plays, the way that he looks the way that he acts, it is something that I think a lot of people are going to embrace.

Question: Kellyn Acosta has had very different career from (Ferreira and McKennie). He’s from Plano, he’s fighting for one of those last roster spots, potentially. What’s Kellyn’s career been like for you, watching over the past decade?

Lalas: Well Kellyn’s going, Kellyn is on my plane. Absolutely. I’d be really, really surprised if Kellyn doesn’t go. I’m not sure he’s a starter right now. But if one of those central midfield players goes down, I mean, look, I just came from MLS Cup, and he was all over the place. And he had a really, really good game. And I think he has proven time and time again, that this is a player that if one of those players goes down, we’re not going to miss a beat.

I think that goes to the depth. There is incredible competition within the team for those starting spots. But then, if and when — it’s not even if. It’s when it happens, red cards, injuries, just out of form — whatever happens — there are going to be opportunities for those players that aren’t in the ‘Starting 11.’ And I think Kellyn is one of those players.

He hits an incredible free kick. So set pieces, I think, are going to be important for this U.S. team. So him being on the field at different times is important, it covers a lot of ground. I don’t think that there’s anybody out there that can even approximate what a Tyler Adams does, but the closest one would be probably a Kellyn Acosta in that midfield trio of coming in. So I think that he has done everything in his power.

When you look at what has happened with his career, and I think he’d be the first one to tell you that it’s it’s gone up and down and he’s gone some different places and he’s had some different moments where possible moves or out there. But I think he’s found a real home in LA with LAFC — and now he’s an MLS Cup champion — and I think that you always have a vision of how you want your career to go. Very, very few of us out there actually see that path, and that path emerges and that’s the path that you take. It’s always going to be a winding road with ups and downs, ebbs and flows. And I think he has had his fair share of them. But ultimately, right now I think if he looks back -- even at the good and the bad times -- it is a successful career so far, and I think he has a whole lot more to prove when it comes to what he can do on the field, whether it’s in a couple of weeks in the World Cup or going forward in his club play either for LA or even something else.

Question: One of the last Texans I want to ask about is Reggie Cannon, who is from Grapevine, he played for FC Dallas now he’s playing in Portugal. Reggie Cannon: is he on your plane to Qatar?

Lalas: I think he’s a question. I think he’s a question right now and it’ll be a question of numbers. And look, I think it’s important as we see more and more talent, and they all have stars in their eyes, and I get it and they have ambitions, they want to play at big clubs, they want to play over in Europe — a lot of people, a lot of players, they just want to go to Europe.

Well, you know, there’s planes leaving every hour on the hour from Dallas-Fort Worth, if you want to go to Europe, right? And so going to Europe, to be quite honest, isn’t that big of a deal. Going to a place where you’re going to play where you are comfortable, not just on the field, but off the field. If you have significant others in your family, your significant others are comfortable, all that kind of stuff — we worry so much about the 90 minutes of playing, and we forget sometimes about the other 22-and-a-half hours, which are equally as important.

And I think Reggie is, you know, an example of the grass isn’t always greener. But I also think that he’s a great example of of working hard and putting your head down. And it’s not always going to be easy. And part of the challenge is working through those difficult times right now. And it might not always reflect on you when it comes to the national team, what your what is going on in your club situation, but it’s the only thing that we have to judge is what’s going on in a club situation.

I do think that when he is coming in with a national team, that he has made himself valuable in the eyes of Gregg Berhalter, and his staff. So I do think it’s going to be one of those decisions where it comes down to: He’s not a problem off the field. As a matter of fact, I think he, by all accounts, he’s actually a real add when it comes to his personality, and what he brings to the dynamic. And Greg Berhalter talks a lot about the dynamic. And we know he is a capable player on the field. But again, all of that competition going on right now, I think it’s going to be — and I don’t know, ultimately, we’ll find out on Wednesday.

Question: When (Cannon) was here at FC Dallas, particularly during the Black Lives Matter movement, he was very outspoken of it. Fans booed him, when he made a protest during the national anthem. And he was very outspoken about it, very articulate about it. Players who are going to Qatar, short of obviously not playing in the tournament, what can they meaningfully do to maybe voice concerns about certain issues that have risen about this World Cup?

Lalas: They can do whatever they want. They can do it either individually, they can do it collectively. And there will be people that agree or disagree. That’s the wonderful thing about, certainly, our country, even though this is from an international perspective.

There will be teams and there will be individual players at the World Cup that I think are going to either voice or, you know, have some sort of action that I guess illustrates what problem they have with whatever individual cause that is out there. And, you know, the chips will fall wherever they may. When it comes to Reggie, Reggie is really interesting, and I think a really smart guy. And he understands how the world works. And I think he appreciates and respects the fact that while he has his opinion on different things, there are others that have maybe differing opinions. And that’s not the problem.

It’s the problem when there’s not a respect and a level of civility when it comes to the understanding that people can have alternate opinions. And they can have differences of opinion when it comes to different things out there. I don’t know ultimately what the U.S. is going to do, or any other team is going to do. But there are big issues. And this is a obviously a huge platform.

And so when you have the attention of the world, you use that to your advantage with whatever it is whatever cause whatever it is you want to bring attention to. So I don’t begrudge them — any player — using that platform. I certainly did at different times. It just remains to be seen as to what people are going to say how they are going to say it and then it’s one thing to say it, but you understand that there’s at times going to be a reaction. Sometimes it’s a positive reaction. Sometimes it’s a negative reaction, but welcome to life.

Question: I remember in 2022 hearing an announcer say that when the United States found out it was playing Portugal in the first game, (former coach) Bruce Arena said ‘we can beat Portugal.’ What does Gregg Berhalter say about Wales?

Lalas: We should beat Wales. We should expect this team to get out of the group. OK, so when you look at the four teams, obviously United States, we’re playing against Wales first, then England, then Iran — the United States should beat Wales and Iran, OK? And then you take your chances against England. I would love a love nothing more than to beat England, but it’s still an elite team. And it’s as good as our record is against England. And, you know, the field that we have, it’s still a very, very good team.

The problem, or the reality, is that both Iran and Wales are looking at us in the same way — ‘those those are the other teams that we should beat and then we’ll take our chances against England.’ That first game against Wales is crucial. You come out of the gates with your three poitns, and you are cruising because then it takes all the pressure off of that second game against England, where no matter what we’re going to be the underdog role, but it’s a really comfortable role to be in.

I just don’t want this U.S. team to falter in that first game and then have the pressure ratcheted up against a team like England in that second game. We always knew that we’re going to have to get points out of those two games, but I want to make that second game against England as comfortable as possible for the U.S. And the way that you do that is you get a win against Wales.

And I don’t want to dumb this down, OK. Everything that we’re talking about here, all of these different opportunities and advantages and resources and pathways that my generation never had — and this isn’t me, you know, grumpy old man by any stretch of the imagination, I remain incredibly proud that this generation has so many opportunities — but with those opportunities, comes higher expectations. And we should not go into the World Cup just happy to be that we’ve been to plenty of men’s World Cups, we’ve gotten out of plenty of groups. So we should expect this team, even with the youth and inexperience to find a way out of this out of this group at the very minimum, and then you take your chances when it comes into the Round of 16 depending on who you face. But I fear that there is a tendency just to be happy to be there. And that’s not good enough anymore for the United States when it comes to a men’s World Cup.

Question: So Mexico needs to make it out of the Round of 16 one day, what are you looking for out of Mexico and the other Concacaf teams?

Lalas: The soccer gods have a wicked sense of humor. The pressure that (coach) Tata Martino has been under over this cycle is nothing new; Mexican coaches have that. But I think I’ve never seen an El Tri team going into a tournament where there are lower expectations. And in that, it actually gives me hope. The soccer gods also work in strange and mysterious ways. And so it would not surprise me in the least if Tata Martino, in this group with Saudi Arabia and Argentina and Poland, find a way out of it and get to that, you know, fifth game.

And that would just be like chef’s kiss to all of the detractors out there. Because I do think that Tata Martino is a very good coach.

He’s not working with the perceived level of talent of previous teams. And he’s got obviously some injuries when it comes to Tecatito. ... Those types of things aren’t great. And obviously, you have Chicharito waiting in the wings. And that’s not going to happen. Carlos Vela is not going to happen, which boggles my mind, but it’s just the way the way that it is. But I’m excited about El Tri and what the what they can do.

Costa Rica is an interesting case, because we’ve seen them rise to the occasion when it comes to a World Cup, but that well might have dried up and they might have used their magic moment in the last World Cup. And this is a very difficult group, as we know, with Japan and Germany and Spain.

I think the really interesting question is going to be Canada, that’s just breezed through CONCACAF qualifying. I was with some FIFA people last week, and they are all really, really bullish about Canada. So it’s been 36 years or whatever it’s been for for Canada, welcome back to the World Cup. Your reward is you get to play Belgium in the first game of the World Cup. So good luck with that. I think it’s going to be a real struggle for them to find a way out of the group, despite all of their talent. And it might be a bridge too far when it comes to this World Cup.

So maybe ‘26 is where it all comes to comes to fruition, despite how well they did in in the World Cup. I don’t think the group sets up well for them, but they are not without confidence and obviously have incredible talent all over the field. I think that they will be, like I said, incredibly confident about their chances. But it’s not World Cup qualifying anymore. It’s the World Cup, and those can be very, very different animals.

Question: Let’s get to some predictions. Who is the starting U.S. striker against Wales?

Lalas: Oh it’s Jesus. It’s not an indictment against Jesus — it’s really an indictment on this particular position. And the irony is all of this talent that we’re talking about the striker position, that number nine position, that’s where the dearth is, and I asked Gregg Berhalter about it. And he point blank just said, ‘I don’t know. I don’t know why it hasn’t just one of those things. And it’s not for lack of trying, but nobody has stepped up.’ ... I think he is just the incumbent right now. And I think that they don’t have somebody in the mold of a Jozy, Altidore or a Brian McBride and my country for a Brian McBride right now.

Question: Which Concacaf teams make it out of their group?

Lalas: I think the U.S. makes it out of the group. And Mexico.

Question: Who goes furthest?

Lalas: I think we set up better because we face Group A, and so it’s either Qatar, Ecuador or Senegal, obviously The Netherlands and stuff like that. But who knows? We could finish first in the group. Either way I’ll take our chances against the Netherlands. I think our pathway is better, as opposed to that France group that Mexico would have to play? So yeah, I think I think we go farther.

Question: And who’s going to lift that FIFA World Cup trophy at the end?

Lalas: Brazil, I got Brazil, winning it. I think that they are a complete team. But I’ll tell you what, there’s a lot of people that have Argentina and having checked that Copa America box off, and while (Lionel) Messi certainly is in the golden era of his career, he is just playing without seemingly any distractions and as comfortable as I’ve ever seen him.

The balance of Argentina. .. they’re not deferring to Messi, they’ll give him the ball, and he’ll do his magic, but there’s so much talent around him. And there’s no drama. Usually, there’s some drama going on with Argentina, so none of that. So they are not sneaky-good, because it’s Argentina. But yeah, that would be my 1B.

Question: Anything else you think Texans should know about this World Cup?

Lalas: From a general Texas perspective, I mean, I was driving in from the airport. And you know, back in the day, playing games at the Cotton Bowl, and how fundamentally, the sport has changed in the state of Texas.

Now, Texas was always a wonderful fertile ground for talent. But it’s one thing to have talent, it’s another thing to provide the resources and the pathways for that talent. And obviously, we’re talking about Dallas and Houston. And with Austin coming in, there are rivalries all over the place, there’s plenty of talent to go around. But there’s rivalries. Every team in every city has a different type of identity.

And to bring it back to the value that it brings, not just domestically, but maybe more importantly, internationally, there are people from all over the world that recognize Texas as a place where you can go and you can get quality soccer players at an affordable rates that are not problems off the field that have been well coached that they’ve been brought up, sometimes from a very young age, in really, really protective, supportive and valuable types of situations that ultimately make good soccer players.

And so the ones that we’re talking about, and we have talked about, they are by no stretch of the imagination going to be the last ones that we were talking about. There was a whole pipeline behind of talent that is going to be accessed domestically and internationally.

Twitter: @SportsDayDFW

Related: As Jesús Ferreira’s star continues to rise, FC Dallas must learn to cope without him

Related: 2026 World Cup FAQ: How many countries will play, and in which United States cities?

For more sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News, click here .

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Tommy Magelssen , Sports editor . Tommy has been at The Dallas Morning News since 2013 and was named sports editor in 2024. He has previously covered college and high school athletics for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and Pine Bluff Commercial. He graduated from Texas Tech University in 2011.

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General Terms:  By participating in the Offer, participants (or their parent/legal guardian if the participant is a minor in their state/province or territory of residence) agree to be bound by these Official Terms and Conditions and the decisions of the Sponsor. In the event there is a discrepancy or inconsistency between disclosures or other statements contained in any Offer, the Official Terms and Conditions shall prevail, govern and control. Invalid, multiple requests, or requests from clubs or organizations will not be returned or honored. Sponsor is not responsible for inaccurate, delayed, garbled, or misdirected Claims, or problems of any kind, whether mechanical, human or electronic.

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Claimant’s Personal Information:  Information submitted by you will be collected by Administrator’s systems based in the United States and information collected from all participants is subject to Sponsor’s Privacy Policy. To view Sponsor’s Privacy Policy, visit  https://us.coca‑cola.com/privacy-policy .  

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Coca-Cola: FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour

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In 2022, Octagon worked with Coca-Cola to execute the fifth edition of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, leading up to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which took the iconic FIFA World Cup Trophy to 51 countries across six continents, including all 32 qualified nations for the first time ever.

Over the past two years, Octagon worked closely with stakeholders across the world to plan events in each market that targeted a wide range of audiences, including thousands of fans, 11 Heads of State, and tens of thousands of additional customers, bottlers, media, and influencers.

The global experience not only included the Original Trophy — Coca-Cola’s key FIFA asset — and associated brand assets but experiential activations that link to the core campaign, including the innovative Coke Ink Studio, using advanced tech to allow fans to create custom temporary tattoos to show off their national pride. As part of the global Tour, Octagon guided the Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup Trophy to historic sites across the world, including the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, and Wembley Stadium in London, among a broad collection of other global landmarks.

The 2022 Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour was a smashing success on all levels, with the Octagon team delivering more than 1,000 activation hours ​across 127 days, engaging tens of thousands of fans in 51 countries across six continents, featuring more than 20 FIFA World Cup legends, generating millions of video views across Instagram, and delivering 17 world-class concerts throughout the Tour.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--( BUSINESS WIRE )--The FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola kicked off today with a first-stop event in Dubai, where former FIFA World Cup™ winners Iker Casillas and Kaká came together to send the original FIFA World Cup™ Trophy on its journey around the world ahead of the tournament later this year.

“As football fans around the world gear up to support their teams, Coca-Cola is thrilled to offer fans the opportunity to experience the trophy ahead of the tournament,” said Brad Ross, Vice President of Global Sports & Entertainment Marketing and Partnerships at The Coca-Cola Company. “The real magic of the FIFA World Cup exists with fans believing in their teams and showcasing their passion for the game.”

Starting today, Coca-Cola is inviting fans to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the most recognised symbol in football and experience the real magic of the world’s largest and most anticipated single-sport event – the FIFA World Cup™.

The FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola will stop in 51 countries and territories, bringing Coca-Cola and FIFA one step closer to the goal of visiting each of FIFA’s 211 member associations by 2030. For the first time ever, the tour will visit all 32 countries that qualified for the FIFA World Cup™, inspiring fans across the world through exclusive consumer experiences.

“The FIFA World Cup Trophy is one of the greatest symbols in sport,” said Romy Gai, FIFA’s Chief Business Officer. “Bringing it on tour gives us a unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on the fantastic communities around the world who love the beautiful game. The trophy tour – which will end back in Qatar, our amazing hosts – highlights our commitment to making football truly global as we realise the dreams of our fans and bring the joy and excitement of the FIFA World Cup to their doorsteps, together with our long-standing partner Coca-Cola.”

FIFA World Cup™ winners Iker Casillas and Kaká shared their passion for the game at the first-stop event in Dubai.

Kaká said: “It is an incredible honour to be part of the first stop of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola. My first FIFA World Cup as a player was when I was just 20 years old, and it is still fresh in my mind – for me, it was a dream come true.”

Added Iker Casillas: “It was the highlight of my career when I lifted this very trophy as captain of Spain in 2010. And it is exciting that someone will have that feeling in Qatar later this year. It fills me with great pride to join all of you today, as we kick off the journey of the FIFA World Cup Trophy, bringing it to the fans across the globe.”

The FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola has a mission to support the development of sustainability efforts at each location visited by the tour. For the first time, consumer activations will be digitally led by Coca-Cola, reducing waste at each stop on the tour and minimising the consumption of water, energy, materials and other resources.

The Coca-Cola Company has had a long-standing relationship with FIFA since 1976 and has been an official FIFA World Cup™ Sponsor since 1978. Coca-Cola has had stadium advertising at every FIFA World Cup™ since 1950 and is a long-time supporter of football at all levels.

About the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy

The FIFA World Cup™ Trophy is awarded to the winners of the FIFA World Cup™ while remaining in FIFA’s possession. Made of solid gold and weighing 6.142kg, the trophy depicts two human figures holding the globe aloft. Its current design dates back to 1974. As one of the most recognised sports symbols in the world and a priceless icon, the original FIFA World Cup™ Trophy can only be touched and held by a very select group of people, which includes former winners of the FIFA World Cup™ and heads of state. Because regulations state that the original trophy must remain in FIFA’s possession and cannot be won outright, the team winning the FIFA World Cup™ retains the authentic trophy temporarily and is then permanently awarded the tournament edition trophy, the FIFA World Cup™ Winner’s Trophy (which is gold-plated, rather than solid gold, and engraved with the year, host country and winners of the respective event).

The FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola is an extraordinary opportunity for people to take in a piece of football history and share their passion for the sport with each other. The emotions of seeing the original FIFA World Cup™ Trophy will stay in football fans’ memories forever.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company’s purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Our hydration, sports, coffee and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Gold Peak, Honest and Ayataka. Our nutrition, juice, dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and AdeS. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact people’s lives, communities and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and LinkedIn .

Alison Glenn [email protected]

US and Canada will kick off ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 in Dallas

T he T20 World Cup , the biggest event in cricket's shortest format, will kick off in Dallas at Grand Prairie stadium with an iconic clash between the US and Canada on June 1, 2024.

This will be the first time that the US will co-host the tournament, along with the Caribbean nations, in a bid to boost the popularity of cricket in the American market.

The US will stage 16 matches across three venues - Dallas, New York and Broward County in Florida - while the rest of the 45 matches will be held in various islands in the Caribbean. The US has been given some of the most high-profile fixtures, including the much-awaited showdown between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in New York on June 9.

ALSO READ| Why Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli didn't play T20Is for India post 2022 World Cup if they had to return eventually

The US and Canada may not be among the top cricketing nations; they are ranked below the 12 Full Members who enjoy more privileges and resources from the International Cricket Council (ICC) but they share the oldest cricket rivalry in the world.

US and Canada's rivalry can be traced way back to 1844

The first recorded international cricket match was played between the two countries in September 1844 at St George’s Cricket Club in Manhattan, New York. The Auty Cup match left such an indelible impression that Canada's inaugural Prime Minister, John A. Macdonald, officially proclaimed cricket as the nation's official sport in 1867.

Both the US and Canada will be making their maiden appearance at the T20 World Cup, which features 20 teams competing for the coveted trophy. Canada has some experience of playing at the 50-over World Cup, having participated four times, with their last outing in 2007. The US, however, has never qualified for either of the World Cups and will be eager to make a mark on its home soil.

ALSO READ| HT World Cup XI: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Pat Cummins among leading performers of 2023 WC

The ICC chief Geoff Allardice hailed the US as a new frontier for cricket, and said that hosting a major ICC event for the first time would help the sport grow in the world’s biggest sports market.

“As we enter a new frontier, with the USA hosting a major ICC event for the first time...it allows us to make a statement in the world’s biggest sports market,” he said.

Read more news like this on HindustanTimes.com

Cricket World Cup trophy tour to showcase SVG’s tourism

The Tourism Authority is planning to use the 2024 ICC World Cup Cricket trophy’s two-day tour of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to showcase the country’s tourism product.

Avanell DaSIlva, acting chief executive officer of the SVG Tourism Authority, said the agency expects thousands of people to visit the country in June for the Cricket World Cup and for Vincymas from late June to early July.

“So we are trying to see how we can definitely mesh the synergies and to strategically try to do it in an innovative manner,” she told a Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) press conference on Monday.

She said the tourism authority recognises “sports is a part of our culture. 

DaSilva said the ICC trophy tour is”a great stage for us to highlight our destination, to highlight our culture”, adding that the trophy will be in the country from May 15 to 17.

“And, we want to encourage the entire Vincentian population to come out and be a part of the activations that we’re going to be having across the destination,” DaSilva said.

She noted that some other host countries of World Cup Cricket matches have already had their trophy tours. 

“And they, of course, try to, I guess, highlight their destination as best as possible,” she said, adding that SVG has an opportunity to make its trophy tour “the best one across the region. 

“And that’s our aim. So we are happy that we are able again to tag ourselves to Vincymas to make a presence, to set a stage for both Vincymas and also for the tournament that is coming.”

DaSilva said the trophy will arrive in SVG at the Argyle International Airport on May 15, where there will be a welcome ceremony, from about 1 to 2:30 p.m.

“ We invite, again, the media to be there, we invite Vincentians, John Public to be there — students, anybody who wants to be there to help us greet the trophy and to make it as large as possible, a fan-engagement opportunity,” DaSilva said. 

When the trophy leaves the airport, it will travel to Upper Bay Street, where there will be an upstreet party. 

The upper Bay St area was chosen “strategically” to give people travelling to Bequia on ferries between 3:30 and 6 p.m. “to really get an opportunity to interact with the trophy, to be a part of all of the activations”.

Then on May 16, the trophy will go to the Blackpoint Recreational Park sometime around 7:30 a.m.

“… we are planning a fantastic photo iconic shot of the trophy on our black sand beaches,” DaSilva said.

“We want to, of course, encourage the students — I know there’s the Sandy Bay Secondary School that is right across from that. And again, the public to be a part of that activation. We should be there for just about two hours.”

Then the trophy would move to Kingstown and North Central Windward “for those activations also”.

On May 17, the final day that the trophy will be in SVG, it will be taken to Bequia. 

DaSilva said the trophy will be at the Almond Tree in Port Elizabeth.

“ And, again, this is to give persons living on Bequia the opportunity to interact, to engage,” Da Silva said.

“ And let me just say this, you’re not able to touch the trophy. So I don’t want anybody to think that you’re going to be able to touch the trophy and hug it up or anything like that.

“ None of that is allowed. It will be on display, you will be able to stand alongside it, take a picture, whether it’s a selfie, whether it’s a group picture. And that’s pretty much it.”

Speaking at the same press conference, Michael Findlay, head of the local organising committee, said security will be “extremely high” at the Cricket World Cup, adding that not touching the trophy is “normal with international events.

“When you have the FIFA World Cup, you make tours, but you’ll never get to touch the trophy,” said Findlay, a former West Indies cricketer.

“We may find that to be a little discomforting because you look at it and you say, ‘Well, it’s a trophy, what happens if somebody wants to touch it? 

“Well, I’ll give you a story.  FIFA World Cup was stolen some time ago, a few years ago. And that’s why they put all these things in place,” Findlay said.

DaSilva said that when the trophy returns to Kingstown from Bequia, it will join the “Vincymas launch DNA parade” around Kingstown with the Vincymas team.

“ So it’s quite an exciting time. We’re really looking forward to it. And, like I said, we really want to show the region what St. Vincent and Grenadines can do, what we have to offer, how we can best highlight our destination for this trophy tour. 

“So even persons, influencers, anybody, you can get in contact with us, let’s see how we can make it large, and make it a great one for the destination.”

DaSilva spoke of the importance of cricket and carnival to Vincentians.

“And we want to see how best we can merge the two. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to really highlight … our destination, St. Vincent and Grenadines, from a standpoint and put us on the world stage.”

She said a lot of work has gone into the trophy tour over the past months “just get things in place. 

“ So you may not have heard a lot, you may not have seen a lot but there are so many things in terms of approvals, so many things in terms of plan, and pretty much everything has to be approved. So we are at this stage here where now we can actually start putting out and we’re getting our shoulders to the wheel to get the destination out there,” DaSilva said.  

“The world is looking at us pretty much the rest of the region is looking at us. So let’s try to make it a big one. So we are tagging our engagement with CDC as Runs and Rhythm. 

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UEFA EURO 2024 Trophy Tour continues through Germany

Thursday, April 25, 2024

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The Henri Delaunay Cup is making its way through Germany ahead of UEFA EURO 2024, and fans in the host cities of Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen have now seen the iconic trophy up close.

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We’re just seven weeks away from the start of UEFA EURO 2024, and the festivities have already started in Germany as the Trophy Tour has been continuing to make its way through the ten host cities.

The event kicked off in Stuttgart on 22 March and has since been to Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen, with fans across western Germany getting the chance to see the iconic Henri Delaunay trophy and meet some special guests.

Excitement builds across the country

The second stop on the Trophy Tour was Frankfurt, where the silverware embarked on a photo tour through the city, including Frankfurt Arena, which will host five matches at UEFA EURO 2024.

The trophy was then put on display at the MyZeil shopping centre, where tournament ambassador Célia Šašić was in attendance alongside Host City ambassador and former Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Alexander Meier, who signed autographs for fans before taking part in a Q&A session with other local guests. Meanwhile, 11-time table football world champion Chris Marks showed off his skills, with two more tables available for fans to use.

The Tour then moved onto Cologne, which will also host five EURO 2024 matches. Tournament director Philipp Lahm accompanied the trophy on a photo tour ending at the German Sports & Olympic Museum, where fans were able to take pictures with the cup. Lahm then took part in a talk with Mayor Henriette Reker and Host City ambassador Toni Schumacher, who won the 1980 UEFA European Championship with West Germany.

In Düsseldorf, Lahm met Host City ambassadors Sandra Mikolaschek, a two-time Paralympian in para table tennis, and Selin Oruz, Olympic bronze medallist in hockey, following a photo tour taking in the sights of the city and inviting local football clubs to join in the fun. The Merkur-Spiel Arena will stage five EURO 2024 games, including the third quarter-final on Saturday 6 July.

The next stop was Dortmund, where fans were treated to an afternoon of fun family-friendly activities at Friedensplatz, including football-themed games and plenty of food and drink options. The trophy was paraded through the city, with stops including the German Football Museum and BVB Stadion, which will host six EURO 2024 matches, culminating in the second semi-final on Wednesday 10 July.

The trophy then made the short trip to Gelsenkirchen and the Arena AufSchalke, where four EURO 2024 matches are scheduled to take place. It was greeted at the stadium by Host City ambassador, 43-cap Germany forward and Schalke 04 legend Gerald Asamoah. Along with former teammate Émile Mpenza, Asamoah took part in a penalty shootout challenge before watching a tournament for local youth teams with mascot Albärt. Schalke players were also in attendance and signed autographs for the children, who could take photos with the trophy.

The Trophy Tour’s final stops

The UEFA EURO 2024 Trophy Tour now heads to the capital Berlin before making its last three stops in Leipzig, Hamburg and Munich, where it ends on 14 May, exactly a month before the tournament kicks off.

Through its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Strategy , UEFA EURO 2024 aims to be a reference point for sustainability in the world of sports, and a driving force for sustainable development in Germany and beyond. The Trophy Tour is playing an important role by bringing the festivities to supporters across Germany, while fostering ties with local organisations and supporting grassroots football.

Keep up to date with all the latest UEFA EURO 2024 news .

The CJ Cup Byron Nelson

TPC Craig Ranch

Rebuild Mode?

No one has summed up the state of the Dallas Cowboys better than Jordan Spieth just did

Icon Sports Wire

In case you haven't been paying attention, it's a great time to be a Dallas sports fan right now.

The city's NHL team, the Dallas Stars, went down 2-0 to the defending Stanley Cup Champion Las Vegas Golden Knights in their opening-round series, losing both games at home. They've since ripped off three straight, two of them on the road and the third back home on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 series lead. Out west in L.A., the city's NBA team, the Dallas Mavericks, won a pivotal Game 5 on Wednesday against the Clippers to take a 3-2 series lead as well. Then there's the Texas Rangers, who won last year's World Series and currently sit a game out of first place in the AL West. Dallas is hot, hot, hot right now, and we're not talking about the weather.

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On top of all that, the PGA Tour is in McKinney, Texas, this week, a suburb 32 miles north of Dallas, for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Dallas native and golf's golden boy Jordan Spieth is in the field, and in his pre-tournament press conference he discussed the scorching-hot sports scene in his hometown right now. He was also asked if there were any Dallas pro athletes he'd like to play golf with that he hasn't played with yet. 

"Stars, Rangers, or Mavs, I think the easy answer a Luka," Spieth said. "But I don't know if he cares to play at all .

"But I think the most underrated player in all of this is maybe [Stars defenseman] Miro Heiskanen. He's unbelievable, and I kind of like he the way he goes about his work. He's one the best defensemen in all of hockey, and still underrated and pivotal to their run. That was a big two games they went to Vegas and they won.

"It's a fun time of the year when teams are doing well. Rangers started back up, and you get reminded of them winning the World Series. Every time you watch the game you're seeing the trophy next to the guys when they're introducing them and stuff."

One team not mentioned yet? The Dallas Cowboys, who had yet another disappointing playoff exit last winter and haven't exactly done anything to excite the fanbase this offseason for 2024-2025. The team's biggest acquisition so far is ... Ezekiel Elliott, a former Cowboy who, in the nicest way we can possibly say this, is washed. 

Spieth has clearly been paying attention to the Cowboys' every move based off this quote. 

"It's a cool time [in Dallas]," he said. "And then once this is all done you start getting excited for the Cowboys again. That could be a mixed bag."

Nailed it. As Dallas heads into the 2024-2025, quarterback Dak Prescott is in the final year of his contract, and he just lost his two-time All-Pro tackle Tyron Smith to the New York Jets. The Cowboys' recent draft class would lead one to believe that the franchise is rebuilding the offensive line for the future, a future that may not include Prescott in it. A "mixed bag" indeed, Jordy. The beauty of the NFL, and the beauty of the Cowboys, though, is once the season nears, their rabid fanbase will be all in no matter what, Spieth included. 

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The biggest-ever fifa women’s world cup™ trophy tour embarked on a global journey ahead of the fifa women’s world cup australia & new zealand 2023™. the biggest-ever fifa women’s world cup™ trophy tour embarked on a global journey ahead of the fifa women’s world cup australia & new zealand 2023™., skills trainer skills trainer.

McKINNEY, Texas — The CJ Cup trophy isn’t a cup.

That is the first thing one notices when looking at the trophy, which debuts this year at what to many in the Dallas Metroplex will always simply be the Byron Nelson or the Nelson for short. 

But a new title sponsor – AT&T is out and CJ Group, a South Korea-based holding group with a presence in food, retail, logistics, media, and biotechnology, is in for the next 10 years – means change is afoot at the long-running annual stop near Dallas that has been associated with Nelson, the Hall of Famer who retired to the ranch he purchased with his winnings at age 34, in 1968.

CJ CUP : Photos | Thursday tee times, TV | Yardage book

Here’s the back story behind the unusual trophy:

Hanguel and Jikji

“The CJ Cup trophy draws inspiration from two of Korea’s greatest heritage: ‘Hangeul’ and ‘Jikjisimcheyojeol’ (Jiki). Hanguel is Korea’s own unique writing system and alphabet and Jiki is the oldest known book in the world (dating to 1377, 78 years before Johannes Gutenberg produced the Bible using his printing press) printed with moveable metal type. 

“Hanguel is notable for being the only writing system in the world whose creator and principles behind the creation are known. Hanguel consists of 28 letters which include five basic consonants and three basic vowels. The consonants are shaped after the vocal organs and the vowels represent the sky, earth and man. 

“Hanguel was created by adding strokes to these basic consonants and vowels. Today it is the writing system used for the Korean language.”

Name in gold

“During the past six editions of the CJ Cup (which were held on Jeju Island, South Korea, Las Vegas and Ridgeland, South Carolina), the names of all the players in the respective fields were engraved in Korean on the trophy. Once the winner was determined, his name was accentuated in gold before being presented.

“Beginning this year, the names of the past champions will be engraved on the trophy to commemorate the history and tradition of the newly launched CJ Cup Byron Nelson. The winner’s name will be engraved in Korean on the right-hand side of the trophy, currently painted in gold. The word ‘champion’ is carved in Korean but once the winner is confirmed, the player’s name will be inscribed in Korean, shining brightly in gold.

“The base of the trophy depicts an image of a bridge, symbolizing the link that connects the dream to reality. It also signifies the new partnership between the CJ Group and Byron Nelson, offering endless support so that everyone can achieve their dreams.”

There you have it. But the social media response to the trophy has been less than favorable.

When a cup isn't a cup

Leave it to pro golf to call something a Cup and then award the winner an ancient tablet etched in Korean https://t.co/PeWIyGKwAT — W (@ZitiDoggsGolf) April 30, 2024

Beware the Tombraider

Nic Cage is definitely on the way to steal that thing https://t.co/J6VdCczdLS — Rob Slater (@RobSlater10) April 30, 2024

Scrabble Scramble?

this is the trophy for the Scrabble Scramble, our nation’s preeminent vocabulary board game competition https://t.co/kzqPcpzFT3 — ANTIFAldo (@ANTIFAldo) April 30, 2024

The CJ Plaque?

The verdict is it looks like the CJ Plaque https://t.co/npbmgVBjSB — Brendan Porath (@BrendanPorath) April 30, 2024

A past champion weighs in

Where is my name?? — Robert Damron (@RobertDDamron) April 30, 2024

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Horses for Courses: Expect international shootout at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson

Horses for Courses

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May begins with an ol’ fashion wild west shootout with THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson in the Dallas suburb of McKinney, Texas.

Since 1968, Byron Nelson has been synonymous with this event held in the Dallas area. After recent stops at TPC Four Seasons and Trinity Forest, TPC Craig Ranch took over hosting duties starting with the 2021 tournament.

Opened in 2004, the Tom Weiskopf design, like most things in Texas, is bigger than most tracks. Playing to 7,414 yards, the par-71 layout, changed from par-72 for the 2023 edition, provides plenty of room to work the golf ball with and against the wind that blows in this part of the world.

With all that room, the best players in the world have little trouble scoring on this layout. K.H. Lee (+5000) won the first two editions at TPC Craig Ranch and set the tournament scoring record each time. Posting 25-under and winning by three, the Korean picked up his first victory on the PGA TOUR in the 2021 edition. Successfully defending his title in 2022, he went one shot better, 26-under. Squaring only six bogeys against 53 birdies and two eagles, he finally ran out of gas in 2023. Signing for four more rounds of 70 or better and running his total to 12 straight, his 11-under-par total of 273 was good for a tie for 50 th . Yep, 11-under-par did NOT finish in the top 50 last year! Go lower!

Strokes Gained: Approach the Green

Players listed are in the field this week; 2024 season stats.

When the wind blows – and it will blow – the players who can control the golf ball will have the advantage this week. The Bentgrass green complexes are almost 6,800 square feet, on average, and provide massive targets that most will hit repeatedly. Flighting wedges and holding shots into the proper quadrants will provide more realistic scoring chances than having approach putts from outside 40 feet.

Jason Day (+2000) , the third choice at BetMGM Sportsbook, posted four rounds in the 60s last year to take home his second trophy in a Byron Nelson event. Winning for the first time on TOUR at TPC Four Seasons in 2011 at 22, the 35-year-old opened with 64 and closed with 62 last year to win on 23-under, the highest winning total from the three editions. With the average winning score registering at 24-under and the highest total to make the cut at 4-under, scores in the 70s this week will likely ensure an early checkout. The Australian posted 70-69 here in 2021, 5-under-par, and went home early. In the 2022 edition, he posted three rounds in the 60s, but a 73 in Round 3 knocked him to 13-under and T53. Yep, 13-under did NOT crack the top 50.

Rounds in the 60s

Dallas native Jordan Spieth (+1600), the betting favorite this week, will look to build on his two excellent performances at TPC Craig Ranch. Appearing in the inaugural edition in 2021, the former Texas Longhorn shared the first-round lead on 63 but posted rounds of 70 and 71 to finish T9. Playing in the final group the following year, his final round 67 could not catch Lee to force a playoff. Posting 43-under in two visits, he has circled 48 birdies and four eagles.

Putting: Birdie or Better Conversion Percentage

Bentgrass greens, the first time in use this season on TOUR outside Augusta National, will only run at 11.5 feet on the Stimpmeter (wind), a perfect speed for holing putts. Paying off the approaches for birdies or saving pars and not losing ground is important in keeping up in a shootout. Over three events at TPC Craig Ranch, the cut has been 4-under or BETTER, and single digits under par after 72 holes did not register a spot inside the TOP 60. The 2022 event produced the most birdies and eagles on TOUR.

Si Woo Kim (+1800) trails Spieth as second choice at the top of the BetMGM odds board. Trying to emulate his countryman’s effort of coming from behind to win the 2022 edition, Kim’s final round 63 last year could not match Day’s 62. Making his fourth appearance in Dallas, the four-time winner on TOUR has never posted a round above par in 10 chances.

Oddsmaker’s extras

Seamus Power (+5000): Making his fourth consecutive start, the Irishman will look to add to his success outside Dallas. Cashing T19 or better on all three visits, he’s the only player in that exclusive club. Posting 70 once in 12 rounds, the other 11 loops were all in the 60s.

Daniel Berger (+10000): The only other player in the field with a podium result, T3 in 2021, the Florida man returns to an event where he’s produced T23 or better in three visits on three different tracks. Playing his way back into form, Dallas has always provided a spark. Posting 64 in 2021 is his best of four rounds in the 60s.

Joseph Bramlett (+10000): Opening with 64 in 2021, the Stanford man began a streak of 12 straight rounds of 70 or better. Posting 48-under par over three visits, he returned to the top 20 (T19) last season after four more rounds in the 60s.

Ryan Palmer (+12500): The Colleyville, Texas, resident joins Spieth and K.H. Lee as the only players to have multiple top-10 paydays in the first three events. After blowing a tire in 2021 with a final round 75, the Colonial Country Club member returned in 2022 to share the 36-hole lead before cashing T5. The 2023 edition saw him improve as he shared the 54-hole lead before a final round 68 caused him to slip to T8. Highlighted by 62 in 2022, 10 of 12 career rounds are 70 or better.

C.T. Pan (+10000): Making his debut for the 2023 edition, he posted four rounds in the 60s, including a career-best 62 on Sunday to secure solo fourth.

Zecheng “Marty” Dou (+25000): Entered this week as sponsor’s exemption, the Dallas resident opened with 63 and posted 64 in Round 3 to share the 54-hole lead last year. Finishing with 67, he dropped to T5, his best payday on TOUR. Everybody needs a long shot!

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U.S. and Mexico drop bid to host 2027 World Cup, two others remain

The two nations will instead pivot to try to host the 2031 tournament., by ronald blum | the associated press • published april 29, 2024 • updated on april 29, 2024 at 6:11 pm.

The U.S. Soccer Federation and its Mexican counterpart dropped their joint bid to host the 2027 Women's World Cup on Monday and said they instead will focus on trying to host the 2031 tournament.

The decision left a proposal from Brazil and a joint Germany-Netherlands-Belgium plan competing to be picked for 2027 by the FIFA Congress that meets May 17 in Bangkok.

The USSF said the 2031 bid will call for FIFA to invest equally in the men's and women's World Cups.

FIFA said last year it planned to spend $896 million in prize money for the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The governing body devoted $110 million in prize money for last year's Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

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“Hosting a World Cup tournament is a huge undertaking — and having additional time to prepare allows us to maximize its impact across the globe,” USSF President Cindy Parlow Cone said in a statement. “I’m proud of our commitment to provide equitable experiences for the players, fans and all our stakeholders. Shifting our bid will enable us to host a record-breaking Women’s World Cup in 2031 that will help to grow and raise the level of the women’s game both here at home as well as across the globe."

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In detailing the bid in December, the USSF proposed U.S. sites from among the same 11 to be used in the 2026 men’s World Cup. Mexico listed Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey — its three sites for the men’s World Cup — and in addition for 2027 listed as possibilities Leon and Querétaro.

“We feel that moving our bid back to 2031 will allow us to promote and build up to the most successful Women’s World Cup ever,” MFF President Ivar Sisnieg said in a statement. "The strength and universality of our professional women’s leagues, coupled with our experience from organizing the 2026 World Cup, means that we will be able to provide the best infrastructure as well as an enthusiastic fan base that will make all the participating teams feel at home and to put together a World Cup that will contribute to the continued growth of women’s football.”

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