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ATLANTA, Georgia – The 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here and fans across North America are ready to cheer on their favorite teams.
And many young football fans will have the opportunity to cheer on those teams from the grandest stage.
In each World Cup match, children between the ages of 6 and 10 will accompany the players onto the field before kick-off.
It’s a tradition that dates back to 2002, when UNICEF and FIFA partnered for the “Say Yes for Children” campaign.
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This year, the sponsor of the FIFA breakfast, but also the sponsor of the player support program, is Quaker Oats.
“Together, we partnered with more than 30 community organizations in 11 host cities across the United States to provide 1,400 youth from underserved communities the opportunity to accompany players to the field,” Quaker says in a press release.
In Atlanta, the community organization chosen for all eight World Cup matches is Soccer in the Streets. A non-profit organization that provides children in the greater Atlanta area the opportunity to learn about soccer regardless of their economic or social status.
Soccer in the Streets is the official sponsor of player chaperones at World Cup matches in Atlanta, GA. (Chelsea Torres)
This year alone, 2,500 children will benefit from Soccer in the Streets programs.
“Access starts with making it free for all children, so that no one has the cost barrier to playing this beautiful game,” says Soccer in the Streets CEO Kaseem Ladipo.
Ladipo says that in partnership with Common Goal, another national organization, its free inner-city soccer league, StationSoccer is the official companion for players at World Cup matches in Atlanta.
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At StationSoccer, each soccer field is conveniently located near six different train stations in Atlanta.
150 children from the non-profit organization Soccer in the Streets will accompany the players in the eight World Cup matches at Atlanta Stadium. (Chelsea Torres)
Ladipo says 150 of his players will accompany the players in the eight games at Atlanta Stadium.
“They will have the opportunity to be hand in hand with a FIFA legend or a future FIFA legend.”
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Two of those 150 play at the West End location.
“This has definitely turned our home into a soccer home,” says Erica Holloman-Hill, mother of four children who play at StationSoccer.
Erica says she’s still learning about the sport, but says having her kids play in this free league has helped them grow in more ways than she imagined.
The youngest, Asun, is 8 years old. Then Asir, 10; Asad, 12, and the oldest, Asim, 14. Erica named them the “A-Team.”
Erica Holloman-Hill, mother of four, sits with her four children and nephew at the StationSoccer – West End location. (Chelsea Torres)
When asked what his favorite part of playing together is, Asad immediately said, “We get to teach each other skills and we get to see how good they are.”
Erica tells FOX that when she first heard about StationSoccer’s vision, she had doubts. But now, after two years, his four children are going strong.
And with the world’s largest tournament in his backyard, his two youngest children will have the opportunity of a lifetime.
Within the framework of the Quaker Oats association, Asun and Asir were chosen to attend a ‘Breakfast Academy’ organized by Quaker.
“We learned a lot about fine grains, whole grains, half grains, water, fruit and everything else,” says Asun.
After learning about nutrition and showing great leadership on and off the field, Asun and his brother Asir were selected to walk alongside the players at the South Africa vs Czechia match on June 18 at Atlanta Stadium.
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Asir says he’s excited, but also “a little nervous because I’ve never accompanied anyone.”
He says that every day he thinks about being in the field, but even when he is not awake.
“I think about it in my sleep too.”
