Local Youths Join FIFA World Cup Players as Escorts

WHO:

WTOP - DCFC player Aman Gopalakrishna expressed that the experience felt "insane" due to the large crowd at the stadium.

KCTV - Ezequiel Carmona mentioned he walked out with Thiago Almada, and Xavi Sanchez walked alongside Riyad Mahrez.

WTOP - Members of the District of Columbia Football Club’s U10 boys soccer team participated as player escorts.

KCTV - Students from Kansas City’s Ryogoku Soccer Academy participated as player escorts, including Isabella Barrera, Ignacio Soto, Ezequiel Carmona, and Xavi Sanchez.

WTOP - Amir Lowery is the executive director and co-founder of the Open Goal Project.

KCTV - Brad Leonard is the director of the Ryogoku Soccer Academy.

WHAT:

WTOP - The players received a bag as a gift from FIFA for participating in the World Cup match.

KCTV - Ignacio Soto saw Lionel Messi during the match, describing it as "awesome."

WTOP - The D.C. youth soccer players were selected to take part as player escorts before the Group E match between Ecuador and Ivory Coast.

KCTV - The Kansas City students walked out with players during the city’s first World Cup match, standing alongside teams from Argentina and Algeria.

WTOP - Seventeen players, all 10 years old and younger, participated in the World Cup match.

KCTV - Students described their experience as a "one in a lifetime opportunity."

WHERE:

WTOP - The Group E match took place at Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

KCTV - The Kansas City match occurred at Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead).

WHEN:

WTOP - The Group E match between Ecuador and Ivory Coast occurred on June 14, 2026.

KCTV - The Kansas City match took place on June 16, 2026.

WHY:

KCTV - Diego Barrera, Isabella's uncle, stated he purchased a ticket specifically to watch his niece walk out onto the field, calling it "surreal."

WTOP - The players were selected through a program for “underserved communities” organized by the Common Goal Charity and the Quaker Oats Company.

KCTV - The opportunity for the Kansas City students was secured through an application process organized by Quaker Oats and Common Goal.

HOW:

KCTV - Brad Leonard, director of the Ryogoku Soccer Academy, expressed hope that the experience would inspire the students for the rest of their lives.

WTOP - The DCFC received a grant and fundraised for the trip to Philadelphia.

KCTV - The students were selected through an application process.

In an exciting World Cup match, DCFC player Aman Gopalakrishna described the atmosphere as "insane" due to the massive crowd, while Ezequiel Carmona shared that he walked out with Thiago Almada, and Xavi Sanchez accompanied Riyad Mahrez. Players received special bags from FIFA as gifts for their participation, and Ignacio Soto found it "awesome" to see Lionel Messi on the field. Diego Barrera, Isabella's uncle, purchased a ticket just to witness his niece's moment, calling it "surreal," and Brad Leonard from the Ryogoku Soccer Academy expressed hope that this experience would inspire students for a lifetime.