World Cup trophy to tour Canada before going up for grabs between 24 soccer teams

TORONTO – John Herdman hasn’t touched the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy yet. But he has plans to.

The Canadian women’s soccer coach said he got “really close” to the trophy at the tournament draw in Gatineau, Que., in December but stopped short of handling it.

“Apparently it’s a curse to touch it,” the 39-year-old English coach said Friday.

“But we’ll touch it in B.C. Place, eh?” he added with a grin. “That’s the plan. We lift it. And the U.S.A. will be there with us. We’ll be carrying it around there. That’s the goal.”

Canadians will have a chance to see the 47-centimetre trophy ahead of this summer’s World Cup on home turf when it travels the country on a two-month, 12-city tour starting April 1 in Ottawa.

The tour, sponsored by Coca-Cola, will see subsequent stops in Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax, Moncton, Kingston, Ont., Toronto, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Calgary before wrapping up May 29-31 in Vancouver.

The showcase will offer fans a chance to go up against a robot goalie, record a cheer for their favourite team and have their photo taken with the trophy, among other things.

Only four countries have claimed the 4.6-kilogram trophy: the U.S. and Germany (who have both won it twice), Norway and Japan.

The Americans are the only team to have won it on home soil — in 1999. Canada’s best finish was fourth in 2003, which was also held in the U.S.

The Canadian women, currently ranked ninth in the world, open the tournament June 6 in Edmonton against No. 13 China.

The 24-team tournament wraps up July 5 with the final in Vancouver.

For more information on the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour, visit http://trophytour.coca-cola.ca/

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FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour

April

1 and 3-4: Ottawa

9-12: Montreal

15: Quebec City

18-19: Halifax

24-26: Moncton

28: Kingston, Ont

30: Toronto

May

1 and 3: Toronto

6: Hamilton

8-10: Winnipeg

16-18: Edmonton

22-24: Calgary

29-31: Vancouver

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