Freedom Elementary School students to escort World Cup players onto the field Tuesday night

Freedom Elementary School fourth grader Isai Guerrero is a soccer superfan. He started playing at age 3, can spend hours a day practicing and playing with his brother, and dreams of one day playing professionally.

So when he found out he earned a spot as one of 11 students from his school who will accompany World Cup players onto the field, he was in disbelief. 

“I was shocked,” he said. “I didn’t have any words, I was just excited.”

The 10-year-old, along with his 10 schoolmates, will attend the Austria vs. Jordan match at 9 p.m. Tuesday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. They’ll each be holding the hands of one of the players when they walk onto the pitch before kickoff, as is customary during professional games, including the FIFA World Cup.

The 11 Freedom Elementary students were selected among the thousands of students in Pajaro Valley Unified School District who participate in the after-school programming offered by a national soccer and poetry nonprofit organization, America SCORES. PVUSD’s Expanded Learning program, which operates enrichment activities before and after school and during summer, partners with the nonprofit. 

“This is exactly the kind of opportunity we want for our students,” PVUSD Superintendent Heather Contreras said in a statement. “Experiences like this inspire confidence, broaden horizons, and remind our students that their dreams have no limits.”

Expanded Learning Opportunity Specialist Guadalupe Aburto Lopez told Lookout she was “paralyzed” when she found out that her students were being given this opportunity and that she could attend with them. 

“I was in shock,” she said. “I never thought I would have the chance to go to a World Cup.” 

Lopez said many of the students who are going would likely have never had the chance to go, and some of the parents cried with joy when she told them. 

Isai’s parents, David and Elida Guerrero, were in awe when they found out. 

“We couldn’t believe it,” said David. “It was just one of those moments where you always dream of going to the World Cup.” 

Now that Isai is going, his father is trying to get tickets to the game so he can take Isai’s older brother, Irving, 12, who is also a big soccer fan.

Irving is very excited for his younger brother, saying that he thinks Isai got the opportunity because of “all the kindness he put into the world.” 

“He deserves it,” Irving said of Isai. “He’s always talking to people, he’s always helping out, like even if someone’s over there not asking for help, he also tries to help them.” 

Elida said she’s so excited Isai gets this opportunity, as soccer is a big part of the family. David is on the coaching staff for the Watsonville High boys varsity soccer team, her boys are always dressed in soccer jerseys, and they watch the games as a family. She’s also seen how soccer has helped the boys grow and develop teamwork skills.

“When they’re little, they’re thinking of themselves,” she said. “Then through the years, they learn to work with the team … they start thinking about other people and other people’s feelings.”

Isai added that soccer has taught him a lot over the years: “I’ve learned that even when I’m down, I always keep my head up, because there’s always a chance to get back.”

David said if he and Irving don’t get tickets, they’ll be excitedly looking for Isai on the TV screen. 

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said. “And it’s definitely an experience he’ll never forget.”

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