Written by Alice Njoki
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to bring excitement to football fans around the world, there is one tradition that happens before every match. Just before kick-off, players walk onto the pitch holding the hands of children. But have you ever wondered why? Who are these children, and how do they get chosen?
The children are called player mascots or player escorts. While children had appeared with players before, the tradition became a permanent part of the FIFA World Cup in 2002 through the “Say Yes for Children” campaign, a partnership between FIFA and UNICEF. The campaign was created to promote children’s rights, including their right to education, play, and healthy recreation. Since then, every World Cup has used player mascots to remind the world that football is about more than winning trophies. It is also about respect, fair play, hope, and inspiring the next generation.
For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, more than 1,400 children were selected to take part. Most are between 8 and 11 years old, and they are not picked randomly from the crowd. FIFA works with official partners, charities, community football programmes, and competitions to choose children from different host cities and communities.
The children do not have to be football players. Instead, they are chosen through official programmes that give young people from different races, cultures, backgrounds, and abilities the opportunity to take part. The aim is to make the experience inclusive and ensure more children can be part of football’s biggest tournament.
On match day, the player mascots arrive at the stadium hours before kick-off. They receive an official World Cup kit, practise walking onto the pitch, and are paired with a player shortly before the teams walk out. After the national anthems, they leave the field to watch the match with their families.
Many fans also wonder if the children are paid or if the same children appear at every match. They are not paid by FIFA. Instead, they enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience, keep their official kit, and create memories they will never forget. A new group of player mascots is selected for every match, giving more children the chance to be part of football history.