ORLANDO, Fla. — Local 10-year-old soccer enthusiast Emmett Black of Oviedo, Florida was selected to attend the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ where he will accompany a player onto the pitch before a match as part of McDonald's Player Escort sweepstakes with WFTV.
Black, 10, was surprised with the news surrounded by friends and family during a special World Cup-themed event created just for him at an Oviedo area McDonald’s. He is one of 26 kids ages 6 to 10 from across the nation selected as a McDonald’s Player Escort. Each child will meet some of the world’s best soccer players and walk hand-in-hand with them onto the field minutes before the match. Player Escorts will each secure a $1,000 grant for a local soccer organization of their choice to be announced upon their return from Brazil.
» VIDEO: Emmett announced as winner
Along with his father, Black, will represent Central Florida on a four-night, five-day trip to Brazil starting June 13 with the first stop in Rio de Janeiro.
During his trip, Black and his father will experience the thrilling atmosphere of the FIFA World Cup™ and the lively surrounding culture.
Black will escort a U.S. Men’s National Team player onto the field on June 16 in the match city of Natal, Brazil.
Globally, 1,408 children are chosen by McDonald’s to serve as Player Escorts and support their country’s players during the month-long tournament in Brazil, which starts June 12 and culminates with the championship match on July 13.
McDonald's Player Escort program began in 2002 at the FIFA World Cup™ in South Korea/Japan. Since that time, McDonald's has given more than 6,000 children from around the world the chance to lead a player into the stadium. Additionally, McDonald's has been a supporter of soccer at both the global and grassroots levels for more than 25 years. The Company has served as an Official Sponsor and the Official Restaurant of the FIFA World Cup™ since the United States Tournament in 1994, continuing for each FIFA World Cup™ through to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.
WFTV
