Five CUES students had an unforgettable World Cup experience on Saturday, June 20, when they served as player escorts for Curaçao during the opening ceremony of the Ecuador vs. Curaçao match in Kansas City.
The students walked onto the field with Curaçao’s national team before kickoff, standing alongside the players during the opening ceremony. Some even appeared on the television broadcast, creating a once-in-a-lifetime memory for the students, their families, and the CUES community.
The students who participated were selected at random from among 30 CUES students who played soccer for their school in the Soka League through Football for the World during the Fall 2025 season.
The five student escorts were Thailynn Hall of Sacred Heart School, Isaiah Paul of All Saints School, Evan Warren of Holy Name School, Pal Bidit of Holy Name School, and London Austin of Sacred Heart School.
The day was a long one. The group left Omaha by van at 8:30 a.m. and returned at 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning — tired, but carrying a memory they will never forget.
“It was an incredible opportunity for our students,” said Fr. David M. Korth, President of the CUES School System. “To walk onto the field at a World Cup match and be part of an international sporting event is something they will remember for the rest of their lives. We are grateful to the partners who made this possible.”
The match itself was historic. Curaçao, a nation of approximately 156,000 people, earned its first-ever World Cup point by tying Ecuador 0-0.
Two additional All Saints students, Adriel Rodríguez Sosa and Luis Bocaney Sosa, are scheduled to attend the Algeria vs. Austria match in Kansas City on June 27.
CUES extends a special thank you to local partner Football for the World and national sponsors Common Goal and Quaker Oats for making this opportunity possible for CUES students.
The CUES School System includes All Saints, Holy Name, and Sacred Heart, providing faith-based education and support for students and families in Omaha.
