Think Together Students Step Onto the World Cup Stage
For a group of Think Together students, World Cup 2026 was more than a game. It was a chance to step onto the field, walk alongside professional athletes and be part of a moment they will never forget.
Through Think Together’s Sports Accelerator partnership with Street Soccer USA, students from Rio Vista Elementary School and South Ranchito Dual Language Academy in El Rancho Unified School District participated as player mascots during three World Cup 2026 matches: USA v. Paraguay on June 12, New Zealand v. Iran on June 15 and Belgium v. Iran on June 21. As mascots, students helped welcome players onto the field before kickoff and experienced the energy of the game up close.
“My experience at the FIFA World Cup was amazing because I got to walk out with one of the players,” Ryan said. “My favorite moment was when the team scored and the crowd went wild. It was so loud.”
The World Cup experience was provided at no cost to students and families, helping remove barriers to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For students, those moments of access matter. They create space to try something new, build confidence and feel part of a team.
The opportunity built on a growing partnership between Think Together and Street Soccer USA, which has brought engaging soccer programming to students across Southern California since 2024. Earlier this year, about 90 Think Together students from Paramount, El Rancho, Bellflower and Bassett school districts participated in Street Soccer USA’s LA Cup in downtown Los Angeles at LA LIVE. Think Together and Street Soccer USA also collaborated alongside Paramount Unified School District, Visa, and Bank of America to celebrate the grand opening of a brand-new Visa Street Soccer Park and learning center at Hollydale Park in South Gate. Students from the neighboring school, Hollydale Elementary in Paramount Unified, were invited to join the celebration and were among the first to step onto the fresh turf.
Through the Sports Enrichment Accelerator, an innovative initiative aimed at building the capacity of other local community-based organizations, Think Together connects students to opportunities that support physical activity, teamwork, confidence, social emotional learning, and leadership. Experiences like this remind students that they belong in big moments and can be part of something bigger than themselves.
“Think Together’s mission is to partner with schools to change the odds for kids, and we are committed to working with organizations like Street Soccer USA, as they continue to allow us to meet our mission while bringing immersive experiences to our students which expand their horizons,” said Jaclyn Aviles, Senior Strategist and leader of the enrichment accelerator initiative for Think Together.
Think Together is grateful to Street Soccer USA for making this opportunity possible. Together with partners like Street Soccer USA, Think Together is helping change the odds for kids, one goal at a time.
Read more about Think Together’s unique enrichment accelerator offerings.
