Miami SCORES, Powered by Concacaf Selected for FIFA World Cup 2026™ Player Escort Program Through Partnership with Common Goal and Quaker

Youth from Title I Miami-Dade County Public Schools will walk onto the world's largest soccer stage alongside professional players, supported by Quaker and Common Goal.

Miami SCORES, Powered by Concacaf, announced on May 12, 2026, that a group of its poet-athletes has been selected to serve as player escorts at the 2026 FIFA World Cup™. Quaker partnered with Common Goal, a collective of soccer-based community organizations, to identify over 1,400 youth across all 11 FIFA World Cup™ United States host cities to participate in the Quaker Player Escort Program, with Miami SCORES selected as a local partner. This once-in-a-lifetime moment gives youth the chance to walk professional players onto the pitch across 66 U.S. matches and connects youth directly to the global spectacle of FIFA World Cup™. 

Miami SCORES partners with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to deliver free after-school and summer programs to students in Title I schools across Miami-Dade. Through a combination of soccer, poetry, and service-learning, the organization equips poet-athletes with confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills both on and off the field. Miami SCORES is part of the SCORES Network, North America's largest free soccer and literacy program serving over 15,000 Title I public school students through 13 affiliates, and an official legacy program of the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

“This is the definition of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. At Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), we believe in exposing our students to world-class experiences that ignite dreams and create unforgettable memories. The opportunity for our students to walk onto the pitch during the FIFA World Cup alongside elite international players is not only an incredible honor, but a powerful reminder of how sports can inspire, unite, and transform lives. These are the moments our students will remember for the rest of their lives. This is another reason why M-DCPS is your best choice." said Mr. Kevin Lawrence, Director for the Division of Athletics and Activities at Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

For the first time, Miami SCORES poet-athletes from Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Liberty City and Little Haiti will stand at the center of that moment on a global stage during the match kickoff. Player escorts walk alongside professional players during the pre-match ceremony on the field, one of the most-watched moments in international soccer.

"This opportunity reflects the impact sports can have in creating access and meaningful experiences for youth from underserved communities. For Miami SCORES, as a valued Community Partner of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, to be represented on the world’s biggest stage is deeply meaningful for our students, families, and community. We are so proud that our deserving Miami SCORES poet-athletes will get this opportunity to shine!” said Rob Uvanovic, Executive Director at Miami SCORES.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with Miami serving as one of the official host cities. Games are scheduled to begin in June 2026, giving Miami SCORES youth the opportunity to participate on home ground. Other SCORES network affiliates based in World Cup host cities will also have the opportunity to send poet-athletes as player escorts, including Bay Area SCORES (San Francisco), Seattle SCORES, Boston SCORES, LA SCORES, New York SCORES and Canada SCORES (Vancouver & Toronto). Together, the network's presence across multiple host cities places SCORES youth at the center of the tournament from coast to coast.

Common Goal's partnership with Miami SCORES and the SCORES Network connects the organization to a global network of clubs, players, and foundations committed to using soccer as a vehicle for social change. Quaker's investment in the Player Escort program extends that commitment to the tournament's opening ceremonies, putting youth development at the center of the World Cup experience.

For more information, visit miamiscores.org.