150 children selected from a non-profit organization will accompany the players in 8 matches of the World Cup

ATLANTA, GA – 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 while standing on the main stage itself.

In all World Cup matches, children between the ages of 6 and 10 will accompany the players to the pitch before the matches start.

It is a tradition that started in 2002, when UNICEF and FIFA collaborated on the “Say Yes for Children” campaign.

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This year, the sponsor of the FIFA breakfast, but also the sponsor of the accompanying program for the players, is Quaker Oats.

“In total, we partnered with more than 30 community organizations across 11 participating cities in the United States to give 1,400 youth from underserved communities the opportunity to get players on the field,” Quaker said in a press release.

In Atlanta, that community organization has been chosen for all eight World Cup games, Soccer in the Streets. A non-profit organization that provides children throughout the greater Atlanta area with the opportunity to learn about soccer regardless of their economic or social status.

This year alone, 2,500 children will benefit from Soccer in the Streets programs.

“Access starts with making it free for all kids so no one, has a cost barrier to playing this great game,” said Soccer in the Streets Executive Director Kaseem Ladipo.

Ladipo says that in partnership with Common Goal, another national organization, their free inner-city soccer league, StationSoccer is an official sponsor of the World Cup games in Atlanta.

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Under StationSoccer, each soccer field is conveniently located near six different subway stations throughout Atlanta.

150 children from the non-profit organization Soccer in the Streets will get to accompany the players in all eight games of the World Cup at Atlanta Stadium. (Chelsea Torres)

Ladipo says that 150 of their players will be accompanying the players in these eight games at the Atlanta Stadium.

“They will have the opportunity to wrestle with a FIFA legend or a future FIFA legend.”

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Two of those 150 plays in the West End.

“It's definitely made our home a soccer home,” said Erica Holloman-Hill, a mother of four boys who play for StationSoccer.

Erica says that she is still learning about the game, but she says that her boys playing in this free league has helped them grow as much as she thought.

The youngest, Asun, is 8 years old. Then Asir, 10; Asad, 12 and the oldest, Asim, 14. Erica named them “the A-team.”

Mother of four, Erica Holloman-Hill sits with her four boys and nephew at StationSoccer – a West End venue. (Chelsea Torres)

When asked what their favorite part of playing with others is, Asad quickly said, “we get to teach each other skills, and see how good they are.”

Erica tells FOX when she first heard about the StationSoccer idea, she was hesitant. But now his four boys are two years old.

And with the biggest tournament in the world in their backyard, his two young sons will get the chance of a lifetime.

Under the Quaker Oats partnership, Asun and Asir were selected to attend the 'Breakfast Academy' run by Quaker.

“We learned a lot about good grains, grains, cereals, water, fruits and all other things,” said Asun.

After learning about nutrition and showing good leadership on and off the field, Asun and his brother Asir, were selected to accompany the players to South Africa's match against Czechia on June 18th at the Atlanta Stadium.

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Asir says he is happy, but also, “a little nervous because I have never accompanied anyone.”

He says that every day he thinks about being on the field even though he is not awake yet.

“I think about it in my sleep too.”