The FIFA World Cup Trophy Arrives in Quito Today — One-Day-Only Public Viewing in Cumbayá

The most famous trophy in sports is in Quito right now.

The Event

The original FIFA World Cup Trophy — 6.175 kilograms of solid 18-karat gold — is on display at the Quorum del Paseo San Francisco in Cumbayá today, Tuesday, February 17, from 2:30 PM to 9:00 PM.

This is the fourth time the trophy has visited Ecuador. It arrived from Bogotá, Colombia, and will continue to Buenos Aires, Argentina later this week. Quito gets it for one day only.

The event is part of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola — the sixth edition of the global tour, marking 20 years of the program. The 2026 tour is visiting 30 countries with 75+ stops over 150+ days before culminating at the World Cup opening match in Mexico on June 11.

Can You Still Go?

Tickets were distributed through a lottery system — not general admission. Registration ran from January 23 to February 15 through the Coca-Cola Ecuador website and a parallel McDonald's promotion (500 loyalty points for a raffle entry). Winners received QR-coded double passes.

Tickets are now fully allocated. However, a separate Fan Fest area may still be accessible — check Coca-Cola Ecuador's social media for updates.

If you got in, the rules are straightforward: you can view and photograph the trophy, but touching or lifting it is strictly prohibited. The trophy only leaves the FIFA Museum in Zurich for two purposes — this tour and the World Cup itself.

Previous Trophy Visits to Ecuador

| Year | World Cup | Venue | Notable | |------|-----------|-------|---------| | 2006 | Germany | Quito | First visit | | 2014 | Brazil | Quito | Second visit | | 2022 | Qatar | Quorum del Paseo San Francisco | ~12,000 fans attended; Brazilian legend Lucio accompanied the trophy | | 2026 | USA/Canada/Mexico | Quorum del Paseo San Francisco | Today |

Ecuador at the 2026 World Cup

Ecuador qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — and was drawn into Group E alongside Germany, Ivory Coast, and Curaçao.

| Match | Date | Time (ET) | Stadium | City | |-------|------|-----------|---------|------| | Ecuador vs. Ivory Coast | June 14 | 7:00 PM | Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia | | Ecuador vs. Curaçao | June 20 | 8:00 PM | Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City | | Ecuador vs. Germany | June 25 | 4:00 PM | MetLife Stadium | East Rutherford, NJ |

The group stage opener against Ivory Coast in Philadelphia will be the first test. The marquee match against Germany at MetLife Stadium — the same venue hosting the World Cup Final on July 19 — is the one circled on every Ecuadorian calendar.

The Global Tour Route

The trophy's 2026 journey spans six continents:

• Middle East/Asia: Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
• Africa: South Africa, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Algeria
• Europe: Portugal, Spain, France
• Latin America: Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Mexico
• North America: Canada (7 cities), United States (all host cities + additional markets)

Ecuador sits in the Latin American leg, between Colombia and Argentina.

What This Means for Expats

• If you're in Quito today: Head to Quorum del Paseo San Francisco in Cumbayá between 2:30 and 9:00 PM. Even without a pre-registered pass, the Fan Fest area may be accessible — and the atmosphere alone is worth the trip
• Planning a trip to the U.S. this summer? Ecuador's Group E matches are in Philadelphia, Kansas City, and the New York metro area. If you're heading stateside for any reason between June 14–25, catching a game is worth planning around. Tickets are available through FIFA.com
• World Cup fever is real here: Ecuador is a football-obsessed nation, and qualifying for the World Cup — especially with a group-stage match against Germany — dominates conversation. Engaging with it is one of the easiest ways to connect with Ecuadorian neighbors and colleagues
• For context: Ecuador has appeared in four World Cups — 2002, 2006, 2014, and 2026. Making it to the knockout stage would be a historic achievement

Sources: Primicias, El Universo, ESPN Ecuador, FIFA, Coca-Cola Ecuador