Gilberto Silva, Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning midfielder, expressed delight during his visit to Bangladesh with the 2026 World Cup trophy. He thanked FIFA, its president Gianni Infantino, and Coca-Cola for the warm welcome extended to the country.
As part of its global tour, the 2026 World Cup trophy arrived in Bangladesh, where Silva unveiled it. The former Brazil midfielder, who also won the Copa América and Confederations Cup, said the visit was highly inspirational for both him and the nation’s young football enthusiasts.
Visiting Bangladesh for the first time, Silva was impressed by the country’s hospitality and the excitement surrounding the trophy. He spoke about the experience, the atmosphere, and how the presence of the World Cup trophy could inspire a new generation of players in Bangladesh.
The trophy arrived on Wednesday, facilitated by Coca-Cola. Acting as a FIFA ambassador, Silva expressed hope that the visit would encourage young people to participate in sport, especially football.
“I am very happy to be in Bangladesh. This is my first visit here, and I sincerely thank you for the warm welcome. On behalf of FIFA, President Gianni Infantino, and Coca-Cola, I thank you for hosting us. Bringing the actual World Cup trophy to Bangladesh is an incredible moment and highly inspirational,” Silva said.
“Being able to come here with the trophy is a great honour for FIFA and for us. I hope it motivates the younger generation to get involved in sport and, in particular, to enjoy football, which is close to our hearts.”
During his club career, Silva won the Premier League and FA Cup with Arsenal. Now 49, the former midfielder said the World Cup trophy still inspires him every time he sees it.
“Even today, whenever I have the chance to see this trophy up close, it motivates me. It drives me to keep moving forward, enjoy football to the fullest, and work as an ambassador for this beautiful game,” he added.
The 2026 World Cup trophy began its global tour in Saudi Arabia and, after visiting several countries, arrived in Bangladesh on Wednesday. It will continue to South Korea later in the evening.
This is the fourth time the World Cup trophy has visited Bangladesh. It first arrived in 2002, then in 2013, and most recently before the 2022 Qatar World Cup. It did not visit Bangladesh during the 2018 Russia World Cup.
