By Dikeledi Molobela
A sense of pride, joy and quiet awe filled the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre at the Union Buildings on Friday, as President Cyril Ramaphosa officially welcomed the FIFA World Cup Original Trophy to South Africa, marking a historic and emotional moment in the country’s football journey.
Bathed in sunshine and framed by the seat of government, invited guests, football legends, government leaders and members of the Bafana Bafana World Cup squad gathered in anticipation as the most coveted prize in world football was unveiled during the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola.
The atmosphere was jubilant as the trophy, rarely seen and even more rarely touched, was revealed and handed to President Ramaphosa - one of the few individuals globally permitted to physically handle the Original Trophy.
“It’s really a joyful moment to be here at the Union Buildings. I'm rather glad that we brought the cup here to the Union Buildings... We have unveiled and touched it. It feels very good. It's got a nice touch and feel to it,” the President said, drawing warm applause from the audience.
The FIFA World Cup Original Trophy is the one presented to the winning team at the conclusion of the tournament, before returning to the FIFA Museum in Zurich. Outside of the tournament itself, the only time the trophy leaves Switzerland is during the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola, the only FIFA partner authorised to activate the Original Trophy globally.
For South Africa, the trophy’s arrival carried meaning far beyond spectacle.
After first qualifying for the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and famously hosting the historic 2010 tournament, South Africa has now qualified again for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending a 16-year absence from the global stage.
The moment symbolised not just a return but a renewal, placing the hopes, pride and aspirations of the nation firmly back into the international football conversation.
“We are going to lend it out, but it's going to come back. We'll allow it to go for a while, and then after the FIFA World Cup, the boys are going to bring it back, and we will have it here at the Union Buildings again,” President Ramaphosa said.
Addressing the Bafana Bafana squad, the President offered words of encouragement and national backing as they prepare to compete in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
“I want to applaud you and wish you well on your journey to go and do battle in the United States, Mexico and Canada, and we do have full confidence that you're going to bring the cup back. The South African public - the entire population - wishes you well, and this is the one moment when you must feel the full support of South Africans behind you.
“We are going to fill your sails with a great deal of luck, confidence and best wishes as you go out to represent the country and when you are there, just know that you are representing the 62 million people of South Africa,” the President said.
The ceremony also underscored the Union Buildings’ symbolic role as the heart of South Africa’s democracy and leadership.
“This is a beautiful, sunny day in Pretoria. This is the seat of our government, and this is where we make things happen,” President Ramaphosa said, thanking Coca-Cola for bringing the global moment home.
The event featured key photo moments with the President, FIFA World Cup-winning legend Marcel Desailly, South African football icons Siphiwe Tshabalala, members of the Bafana Bafana World Cup squad, government leadership and Coca-Cola system executives, capturing a rare convergence of sport, State and history.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola in South Africa is more than a tour: it is a homecoming for South Africa, marking the symbolic beginning of the country’s return to the world’s biggest sporting stage.
As the trophy was carefully returned to its case and the ceremony drew to a close, one message resonated clearly - South Africa’s football story is once again being written, and the journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially begun. – SAnews.gov.za
