Long before the FIFA World Cup 2026 arrived in Miami, Joshua from Kelsey L. Pharr Elementary had already taken an unforgettable walk onto the field on March 11, 2026. This time, Lionel Messi stood beside him. Joshua joined Inter Miami for its final Concacaf Champions League match against Nashville SC, where he received the opportunity to walk onto the field alongside Lionel Messi. As Joshua waited for the teams to enter the stadium, excitement and nervousness filled the momen

Miami SCORES poet-athletes spent the summer walking FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami This summer, the FIFA World Cup 2026™ came to North America for the first time since 1994 — the same year SCORES was founded. Some of our poet-athletes walked onto the pitch as official World Cup escorts. Others cheered from the stands, wrote poems about it, or participated in watch parties with their teammates. However it showed up, the World Cup found its way into

For 88 Miami SCORES poet-athletes, the FIFA World Cup 2026 became more than a tournament. Through the Quaker Player Escort Program, delivered in partnership with Common Goal, the students walked onto the field alongside international soccer players before four matches in Miami. As they geared up before leaving for the stadium, their parents watched from nearby, carrying a different set of emotions. They reflected on the years of encouragement and personal sacrifices behind ea