RAMALLAH, November 10, 2013 (WAFA) – The FIFA World Cup Sunday began a two-day stop in Palestine, the first stop for the World Cup in an Arab country, as part of the Coca-Cola sponsored global tour which began in September 2013.

President of the Palestinian Football Federation and Olympic Committee Jibril Rjoub described this event as an honor for Palestine.

“It is an honor for Palestine to be the first stop of the cup in the Middle East countries to host the FIFA World Cup trophy,” he said in a press conference in Ramallah.

“Hosting the FIFA cup is a dream for every country, a dream that has come true for Palestine,” he said.

The event, which took place at the Coca Cola company branch in Ramallah, coincided with the company's 15th anniversary for its launching in Palestine in 1998.

Rjoub expressed hope that the international Coca Cola Company would make a bold decision and be a partner to the Palestinian Football Association in developing the sport sector in Palestine as it was a full partner of the FIFA world Cup through the years.

He expressed hope that next year “we will celebrate Coca Cola’s anniversary as an independent country.”

Zahi Khouri, chairman of the National Beverage Company, owner of the local Coca Cola franchise, said the launching of the FIFA cup tour from Palestine shows Palestine’s strong existence on the international agenda.

“We will continue to work to consolidate the spirit of cooperation with public, private, and national institutions in order to build a better future for Palestine,” he said.

The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola began its global tour on 12 September 2013 in Rio de Janeiro and will return in nine months time after going to almost 88 countries.

Former FIFA World Cup participant and Argentina national team player and Coach Gabriel Calderon said that Palestine and Argentina have many things in common, particularly their love for football. He stressed that 'the people of Palestine have to dream about winning this cup one day.”

T.R./M.S.