Celebrating the inclusive power of sport with the country’s football community
TIRANA, 22 May 2022 – The fifth FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola arrived in Tirana, giving the Albanian football community the rare opportunity to experience football’s most coveted prize up close.
The global tour, which kicked off in May 2022 in Dubai, is visiting 51 football nations, including, for the first time, all 32 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying countries. The initiative aims to inspire fans around the world and celebrate the unifying power of football.
“I know first-hand how lifting the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy can excite millions of fans,” said Gilberto Silva, Ambassador of the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola. “It is an honor to be here in Albania, where I have seen the passion for football. With 51 stops across the world, the Tour will inspire and engage a new generation of football stars from this region as well.”
A Celebration of Football and Inclusion
The official welcome event in Albania took place at the Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD) in Tirana, in the presence of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Young footballers—with and without intellectual disabilities—selected by the Albanian Football Association (FSHF) and Special Olympics Albania had the chance to play together in a friendly match just steps away from the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy.
The session was guided by Gilberto Silva and Albanian football legend Lorik Cana, creating an inspiring and inclusive atmosphere. An exhibition on the history of Albanian football was also organized at the venue, in collaboration with FSHF.
The arrival of the Trophy Tour in Albania marked not only a celebration of football but also the beginning of a social responsibility project developed jointly by Coca-Cola and FSHF, focused on promoting inclusion through sport.
“There is no greater symbol in the world of sports than the Original FIFA World Cup™ Trophy,” said Luca Busi, President of Coca-Cola Bottling Shqipëria. “We are proud to bring it to Albania for the first time. This is a country where Coca-Cola feels at home after decades of presence and the constant appreciation of consumers.”
A Long-Standing Partnership with Football
The initiative reflects the strong connection between Coca-Cola and Albania. Coca-Cola Bottling Shqipëria opened its doors nearly three decades ago and has since become an active contributor to the country’s economy, culture, and community initiatives.
Globally, The Coca-Cola Company has maintained a long-standing relationship with FIFA since 1974 and has been an official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™ since 1978. Coca-Cola has advertised at every World Cup stadium since 1950 and continues to support football at all levels around the world.
