2026 FIFA World Cup Set to Begin
Atlanta, Georgia – The much-anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup is upon us, and fans across North America are gearing up to support their teams.
Young soccer enthusiasts, in particular, will have exciting opportunities as they get to accompany players onto the pitch before matches.
Children between the ages of 6 and 10 will walk with players at every match, a tradition that began back in 2002 when UNICEF and FIFA teamed up for the Say Yes to Children initiative.
This year, Quaker Oats is not only the breakfast sponsor for the tournament but also backing the Player Escort Program.
According to a press release from Quaker, “We collaborated with over 30 community organizations in 11 host cities throughout the U.S. to allow 1,400 kids from underserved areas to escort players onto the field.”
In Atlanta, the nonprofit Soccer in the Streets is the designated organization for all eight World Cup matches. This group focuses on providing soccer opportunities to kids in the greater Atlanta region, irrespective of their social or economic backgrounds.
During the current year, around 2,500 children will benefit from what Soccer in the Streets offers.
“We believe that making soccer accessible starts with eliminating costs for all kids,” stated Kaseem Ladipo, the executive director of the organization.
Additionally, through a collaboration with Common Goal, the Station Soccer program, which is a free city league, will supply the player escorts for the games in Atlanta, Ladipo mentioned.
Every soccer field at Station Soccer is conveniently located near six train stations in Atlanta.
According to Ladipo, 150 children will be escorting players during the eight matches set to take place at Atlanta Stadium.
“They’ll have the chance to connect with players who are either soccer legends or on their way to becoming one,” he noted.
Erica Holloman-Hill, a mother of four boys who participate in Station Soccer, expressed her evolving relationship with the sport. At first, she wasn’t fully on board with the idea, but now, two years in, her sons have blossomed through their experiences.
Her two youngest boys, Asun and Aseel, will have a thrilling experience as the World Cup unfolds just down the road.
The brothers were selected to join the Breakfast Academy led by Quaker, where they learned about healthy eating and nutrition.
Asun shared his excitement, saying, “We learned about different grains, fruits, and more.” Both he and Aseel were chosen to escort players during the match between South Africa and the Czech Republic on June 18th at Atlanta Stadium.
Aseel expressed mixed feelings about the upcoming opportunity, noting, “I’m excited but a little nervous since I’ve never done this before.” He confessed to thinking about the experience even in his sleep.
