The six-kilogram, gold-plated FIFA World Soccer Cup touched down in Guadalajara this week in the first stop on the Mexican stage of its world tour prior to this summer’s tournament.

Global politics permitting, the 2018 World Cup will take place in Russia from June 14-July 15. Mexico will be one of the 32 teams participating, its seventh consecutive appearance in the tournament. Neither the United States or Canada qualified.

The trophy was received in Guadalajara by Jalisco Governor Aristoteles Sandoval but he wasn’t permitted to touch it.  Handling the trophy was Argentinian Jorge Valdarno, who scored one of the goals when his country beat Germany in the final of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.  Tradition only allows previous winners of the trophy to carry it on its tour around the world.

In true diplomatic style, Valdano said he hoped one day Mexico could experience the honor, pride and satisfaction of holding aloft the World Cup.