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Fifa trophy revives India’s unfinished football journey
Mint Hyderabad
|January 12, 2026
Coca-Cola’s Ray saw the trophy’s return as more than a ceremonial stop on a global tour
The original Fifa World Cup Trophy arrived in India and was unveiled in the capital on Saturday after a 12-year absence.
(PTI)
When the original Fifa World Cup Trophy arrived in India and was unveiled in the capital on Saturday after a 12-year absence, Sanket Ray saw it as more than a ceremonial stop on a global tour.
“Sport in India is entering a defining phase, marked by wider participation, stronger infrastructure and growing global engagement,” said Ray, president, Coca-Cola India and South-West Asia.
For Coca-Cola, which has partnered with Fifa since 1978, the trophy’s return is significant. The soft-drink giant announced a new three-year sponsorship of the Indian Women’s National Football Team, a move unveiled on Saturday by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The partnership comes on the back of a breakthrough 2025 season for Indian women’s football. The senior national team qualified for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 in Australia for the first time in over two decades. India topped their qualification group with four wins, scoring 27 goals and conceding just one, including a notable victory over higher-ranked Thailand.
This story is from the January 12, 2026 edition of Mint Hyderabad.
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