LAHORE: Pakistan is set to join the 50-country club hosting the FIFA World Cup-2018 Trophy, when a chartered plane will land at the Allama Iqbal International Airport on Saturday with the trophy.

This is the first time that a Pakistani city will be the part of the tour of the trophy.

The trophy started its 126,000 kilometers global journey from Russia in September last. After visiting many cities of Russia, it begun its global tour from London from Jan 22. The Trophy will again land in Russia on May 1 for another tour of Russia, which will end in Moscow a day before the start of the mega event on June 14.

Overall, 81 cities of 51 different countries are part of the tour. Maldives and Sri Lanka are other South Asian countries, which are included in the route of the Trophy.

The Trophy will remain in Lahore for one day. From the airport, the Trophy will be brought to a hotel to be unveiled only to reporters. In the evening, the Trophy will be exhibited for the general public at a private residential scheme.

A 16-member FIFA delegation, including former French footballer and 1998 World Cup winner Christian Karembeu, will also be accompanying the trophy to Lahore. Also, cricket legend Younis Khan, music celebrates Momina Mustehsan and Quratulain Balouch and Pakistan national women’s team captain Hajra Khan will also be there.

Earlier, Lahore has also hosted the torch of Olympics, Commonwealth and Asian Games.Former Pakistan football captain Mujahidullah Tareen said as the FIFA World Cup was a most glamorous event of the world of sports as all 205 countries of the world were the members of the game’s governing body, bringing the Trophy to Lahore was a great moment for us.

From Japan, as the last leg of the global journey, the Trophy will return back to Russia on May 1 to again start a tour within the host country.

The World Cup is being held in Russia from June 14 to July 15. The opening match is being held between the hosts and Saudi Arabia. Overall, 32 countries will feature in the extravaganza.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2018