With only four months to go until the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, some of the Brazil players had the chance to admire its trophy up close. And that experience left them hungry to get their hands on it in Canada.

“I saw the trophy for the first time yesterday and it was inspiring,” said Brazil captain Bruna Benites. “Only champions are allowed to touch it, so the anticipation increased after getting so close to it. I hope that, without any protocol, our team will be able to lift it in July.”

Formiga, who is set to play in her sixth Women’s World Cup, added: “We are doing our best to make the biggest dream of Brazilian women’s football come true. It is a title that Brazil have never won, and l truly believe that winning this cup could end up changing the history of women’s football in our country.”

From captain to captain, I hope that Brazil win this much coveted title and that we see Bruna lifting this trophy and bringing it to our country.

On hand to show the commitment to women’s football development in Brazil were FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke, Brazilian Minister of Sport George Hilton, CBF President José Maria Marin, CBF Vice-President and President-Elect Marco Polo Del Nero, and Brazil 2014 ambassador Cafu.

“Bruna told me she is disappointed that in Brazil you have such good players but no recognition and no proper structure,” said Valcke, who recently announced that USD 15 million of the 2014 Legacy Fund will go to women’s football development. “With the CBF and through the 2014 FIFA World Cup Legacy Fund, we are working to develop women’s football. You deserve that. We have to make sure that women’s football in Brazil moves to another level in the future, and I hope that soon you will lift the trophy for the first time.”

Marin commented: “This is all very important to us. We are great in men’s football but more than ever, with the support of FIFA, we have to develop women’s football in Brazil in a very concrete way. We are confident we will achieve this because we felt the excitement of our Minister of Sport.”

The man Marin was referring to, the recently appointed Hilton, highlighted the importance of the partnership between the Federal Government, the CBF, FIFA and the Brazilian people. In his opinion, everyone has to be engaged.

“To me, women’s football is a point of honour,” he said. “Becoming FIFA Women’s World Cup champions begins in grassroots. President Dilma Rousseff sees women’s football as something that requires a proactive policy from the Sports Ministry. She told me that my mission was to turn it into something compelling, with structured competitions and to help disseminate the practice of women’s football all over Brazil, through partnerships with colleges and schools.”

Brazilian footballers and fans had the chance to take pictures and admire the Women’s World Cup trophy as part of the Live Your Goals Tour. The event was held in Sao Paulo and was the latest in a series that has already been to Spain, China PR, the USA and Germany. Next stop, in February, is France.

“From captain to captain, I hope that Brazil win this much coveted title and that we see Bruna lifting this trophy and bringing it to our country,” said Cafu. “It would be fantastic. We have to totally support the Brazilian women’s team, because they have already proved how capable they are.”