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LOOK: The Filipinas Welcome World Cup Trophy in Manila

By The Game Team - March 02, 2023
Yesterday, March 2, 2023, the coveted FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy landed in Manila, and athletes and football fans came together to celebrate its visit.

With the Women’s World Cup just a few months away, FIFA is going on its biggest Trophy Tour ever, taking the tournament’s top prize around the different participating nations around the world.

Yesterday, the trophy landed in the Philippines for the first time ever.

Early yesterday afternoon, the Australian and New Zealand ambassadors to the Philippines unveiled the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy for the very first time in Fairmont, Makati.

There, invited guests and media representatives had the chance to get up close to the top prize.

The FIFA Women's World Cup Trophy makes its first ever visit to the Philippines
The FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy makes its first ever visit to the Philippines.

“This is the first time that we will be having the Trophy Tour here because this is the first time that the Philippines qualified for the World Cup. That’s why it’s a very special occasion,” Philippine Football Federation (PFF) general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes said to the crowd.

Later in the day, the trophy made its way to Glorietta’s activity center, where the PFF hosted a full-blown event, with games, activities, and prizes, for football fans to celebrate the arrival of the World Cup trophy, and to promote the Filipinas’ berth to the top tournament.

PFF General Secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu, New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Kell, and FIFA Trophy Tour organizer Sarah Gandoin with the trophy
(From left to right) PFF General Secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu, New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Kell, and FIFA Trophy Tour organizer Sarah Gandoin with the trophy.
The Trophy Gets a Warm Welcome

While the trophy was first unveiled to media partners and other stakeholders involved with the trophy tour, FIFA and PFF representatives later brought the trophy to Glorietta for the public to meet the World Cup trophy themselves.

The golden prize sat front and center in Glorietta’s activity center and was surrounded by different booths with activities and mini-games for football fans to enjoy.

In addition, players of the Philippine Women’s National Football team were also present at the event to see the prize that they will be fighting for this July in person for the very first time.

Football fans and athletes gathered in Glorietta to see the World Cup Trophy and participate in games and activities hosted by the PFF
Football fans and athletes gathered in Glorietta to see the World Cup Trophy and participate in games and activities hosted by the PFF.
Football fans got the chance to win prizes and games in the different booths at the World Cup Trophy Tour event in Glorietta
Football fans got the chance to win prizes and games in the different booths at the World Cup Trophy Tour event in Glorietta.

Lucky football fans got the chance to bring home prizes, signed jerseys and bags from the national team’s star players, and of course, photos with the World Cup Trophy.

The energy in Glorietta’s activity center was buzzing with football passion, with fans even bursting into song and cheers to celebrate the players’ historic qualification for the World Cup.

Football fans got the chance to win prizes and games in the different booths at the World Cup Trophy Tour event in Glorietta
Football fans got the chance to win prizes and games in the different booths at the World Cup Trophy Tour event in Glorietta.
Lucky Filipinas fans got the chance to meet star players of the Filipinas, like Hali Long
Lucky Filipinas fans got the chance to meet star players of the Filipinas, like Hali Long.
Kicking Off International Women’s Month

Apart from celebrating the trophy’s visit to the Philippines, FIFA, the PFF, and the Filipinas also welcomed the arrival of International Women’s Month.

And to help kick off the International Women’s Month celebrations, the Filipinas were also featured on the cover of The GAME‘s March issue. With this, the cover story’s featured players, as well as other football fans at the event, were able to view and appreciate the cover for themselves.

READ – The Filipinas: Building on the Structure of Success

Filipinas players Shai del Campo, Inna Palacios, and Hali Long with their March cover photo on The GAME
Filipinas players Shai del Campo, Inna Palacios, and Hali Long with their March cover photo on The GAME.
UST Women's Football Team players with The GAME's March cover featuring the Filipinas
UST Women’s Football Team players with The GAME‘s March cover featuring the Filipinas.

As the Philippines will go on to support the Filipinas on their journey to the World Cup stage, they have an entire country of supporters behind them.

“They will be in the thick of the fight. They will fight it out. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Gastanes said at the event.

“If there’s one common quality with our team, new and old, is that they’re very tenacious. They don’t say die. They really display tremendous heart.”

The FIFA Women's World Cup Trophy
The FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy up close.

Did you get your chance to witness the trophy in the flesh?


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