‘Dream come true:’ 10 deserving kids will attend today’s World Cup opener thanks to a Toronto ‘ticket charity’

Soccer fan, Ari, 10, of Toronto is headed to the Canada vs. Bosnia FIFA World Cup match on June 12 at Toronto Stadium with his father, Tal. They are the recipients of a pair of tickets from Kids Up Front. (Supplied)

Ten deserving kids and their parents/guardians will be joining thousands of excited fans at Toronto Stadium on Friday to watch Team Canada take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first ever FIFA World Cup opening match on Canadian soil.

The opportunity was made possible by a charitable organization called Kids Up Front.

Commonly known as the “ticket charity,” its Toronto chapter has handed out more than one million free tickets, valued at $35 million, to children/youth and families facing barriers, often times financial, since it was founded 20 years ago.

Kids Up Front works with more than 300 organizations in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, distributing an average of 65,000 concert and sporting event tickets each year.

“For families having trouble, the first thing that goes is entertainment,” Lindsay Oughtred, Kids Up Front Foundation Toronto’s executive director, said during an interview with CP24 on Tuesday.

‘Really warms our heart’: Kids Up Front

Oughtred said she had hoped supporters would come forward to donate tickets to the FIFA World Cup but wasn’t sure if that would be the case, given the high price.

Their wish came true, she said, in April when a donation came in for the first set of three tickets for the Germany-Ivory Coast match on June 20.

Since then, people have given three pairs of tickets, along with a batch of four, to the Canada-Bosnia game, she said. Tickets for the Canada game were being sold through FIFA for a minimum of $1,300 each.

“These donors could sell (these tickets) for a lot of money, but instead they’re choosing to donate them to Kids Up Front. … It really warms our heart,” said Oughtred.

Kids Up Front said hundreds of requests came in for the FIFA World Cup tickets, so they decided to invite applicants to share why they feel they are most deserving of them.

“We got some really great stories,” Oughtred shared.

‘A memory I would never forget’

Among those selected to attend the game are Ari, a 10-year-old boy from Toronto’s Little Italy area, who will be going to today’s match with his father, Tal.

In his application letter, Ari said soccer has “always been a huge part” of his life. He shared that he and his dad watch soccer together all the time, cheer on their favourite teams, and talk about games almost every day.

“It’s something that really brings us together and makes us happy,” Ari wrote.

“I have been through a lot because of my chemotherapy treatments and surgeries, and having something exciting like this to look forward to would mean so much to me. Going to a FIFA World Cup match with my dad would be a dream come true and a memory I would never forget.”

Ari went on to say that he’s only previously been to one soccer game, “so being able to experience a World Cup game together would feel incredibly special and exciting.”

Kids Up Front has partnered with the Ontario Parents Advocating for Children with Cancer on this donation.

‘Lifelong dream’

Also attending Friday’s match is Amary, a 17-year-old girl from Scarborough, who has spent the last two years organizing a specialized soccer event for children and youth in Toronto Community Housing (TCH). She’ll be cheering on Canada’s national soccer team alongside her dad, Shoranski.

Amary is described by a a staff member at Source Code, which works closely with youth in Toronto Community Housing, as an “exceptional young leader who perfectly embodies community spirit, resilience, and a passion for the game. She has a connection with both organizations through her leadership involvement and participation in their programs.

“Since she was 15, Amary has dedicated her time to volunteering and working within her community, all while masterfully balancing a demanding schedule,” her application read.

“She is a true multi-hyphenate—juggling her academic responsibilities, a modelling career, and playing competitive soccer at both the rep level and for her school team.”

It went on to say that Amary has demonstrated her commitment to “using sport as a vehicle for social good.”

“Recognizing the barriers that many young people face, she created a space where they could access the sport safely, build skills, and feel seen,” the letter read.

“As a dedicated resident of Scarborough, Amary continuously pours her energy into her community to help it thrive. She is a phenomenal role model who has actively influenced and inspired younger girls to get involved in sports, breaking barriers and building confidence in the next generation of female athletes.”

Amary, for her part, said as someone who grew up playing soccer, seeing a FIFA World Cup match live is a “lifelong dream” she “never thought would happen.”

“Being there, watching history unfold in person, wasn’t just about the game itself it’s an incredible reminder that big dreams really do come true,” she said in a statement.