FIFA World Cup trophy lands in Delhi, to be in India for 3 days as part of world tour
New Delhi (PTI): Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, with the tournament set to kick off on June 11, the original trophy arrived in India on Saturday as part of its world tour.
The original trophy was unveiled here at a ceremony in the presence of former Brazilian World Cup-winning player and FIFA legend Gilberto D'Silva, and Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya.
D'Silva said the trophy will inspire youngsters in India to play more football, just like they play cricket.
"...this trophy ...is to inspire so many young kids, inspire the next generation of players, women and boys to become successful also here in football, as they have done in other sports, especially in cricket," he said.
The World Cup trophy has come to India after a gap of almost 12 years as part of its international tour. The trophy tour is being organised by global beverage major Coca-Cola, the official partner of the FIFA World Cup.
During its three-day India tour, the trophy will be in Delhi for two days before being taken to Guwahati in Assam.
Speaking on the occasion, Mandaviya said, the trophy will encourage the youth of the country towards the game of football.
The government is working to develop a culture of sports in the country, which has the largest number of youths globally.
"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, sports has emerged as a national priority," he said, adding, "We are working to bring India among the top-ten sporting nations of the world in a decade by 2036."
The government is working under initiatives such as 'Fit India Movement' and 'Khelo India', which are promoting fitness and sports, with Khelo India focusing on grassroots sports development.
As India aspires to become a developed nation by 2047, sports will stand as a vital pillar of nation-building and youth empowerment, he added.
Sanket Ray, President, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, said that sports have emerged as a very strong, powerful pillar of national building.
"The reason is closely aligned with Vikshit Bharat 2047, where young India are empowered to lead, compete and excel on the world stage. Coca-Cola's association with the FIFA World Cup brings this national focus on sports and youth association to life," Ray said.
Coca-Cola has been an official partner for the FIFA World Cup since 1978 and has been regularly promoting it across the world, he said.
During its global journey, the trophy will visit 30 FIFA member associations (countries) across 75 stops and over 150 tour days, offering fans an incredible opportunity to experience the thrill and connection of football.
The trophy, made of 18-carat solid gold, weighing 6.175 kg, features two human figures holding the globe above them. The design dates back to 1974.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
