150 Atlanta Kids Will Escort World Cup Players Onto Field

Eight-year-old Asun dreams about it even when he's asleep: walking onto the field at Atlanta Stadium alongside a World Cup player in front of thousands of cheering fans.

Thanks to a free soccer program in his neighborhood, that dream becomes reality on June 18th. Asun and his 10-year-old brother Asir will escort players during the South Africa vs Czechia World Cup match.

The brothers play for Soccer in the Streets, a nonprofit giving kids across greater Atlanta access to soccer regardless of their economic background. This year alone, 2,500 kids benefit from their programs, including StationSoccer, a free inner-city league with fields conveniently located near six different train stations.

"Access starts with making it free for all kids so that no one has a barrier of cost to playing this beautiful game," says Executive Director Kaseem Ladipo.

For the eight World Cup games in Atlanta, 150 Soccer in the Streets players were chosen as official player escorts. The tradition dates back to 2002 when UNICEF and FIFA partnered to give young fans a moment on the world's biggest soccer stage.

This year, Quaker Oats partnered with over 30 community organizations across 11 U.S. host cities to select 1,400 young people from underserved communities for the honor.

Asun and Asir earned their spots after attending a special Breakfast Academy where they learned about nutrition and demonstrated leadership both on and off the field. Their mom, Erica Holloman-Hill, says the free league has transformed her household into a "football household" and helped her four boys grow in ways she never imagined.

"We get to teach each other skills, and we get to see how good they are," says 12-year-old brother Asad, explaining what makes playing together special.

Sunny's Take

Asir admits he's nervous because he's never escorted anyone before. But mostly, he can't stop thinking about the moment he'll stand on that pitch. These aren't just kids getting a cool experience. They're young athletes who've worked hard, learned about nutrition and leadership, and earned recognition on a global stage. Their families get to watch them shine. Their communities get represented. And 150 Atlanta kids get to see that dedication and character open doors, even when those doors seemed locked by circumstance.

The tournament might last a few weeks, but the memory of walking hand-in-hand with a FIFA legend will inspire these young players for a lifetime.