FIFA World Cup 2026 

 Cook Children’s Health Care System made it official on June 1 during a “Flag Bearer Signing Day”. In front of friends, family, and hospital staff, the teens signed the Peaks the Dragon soccer ball to commemorate the milestone.

Two Brothers, One Unforgettable Call 

“I’m going the World Cup!” said Christian Meza. “I’m going to watch some of my favorite players play. It’s just a lot of emotion for me.”

Christian’s mother, Margarita Fuentes, received the call for the pitch while he was undergoing treatment at Cook Children’s. Christian noticed the phone call was lasting longer than usual. When he asked about it, his mother delivered the once-in-a lifetime news.

“I’m literally talking to the phlebotomist like I’m going to the World Cup,” recalls Christian, “I’m just really spilling my heart out to them.”

Attending the match was once a distant dream for Christian and his brother, Landon Meza, especially after they previously looked up ticket prices and realized it felt unattainable. The brothers have played the FIFA video game for as long as they can remember. Now, they are transitioning from the virtual game to the actual field.

Through a partnership between Children’s Miracle Network, Walmart, and Coca-Cola, Cook Children’s Health Care System was chosen to provide all 12 Flag Bearers for the opening FIFA World Cup 2026 match at Dallas Stadium on June 14. The official pre-match ceremony requires 12 youth participants (ages 13–17) per match to carry national flags onto the pitch. Cook Children’s is a proud member of the Children’s Miracle Network and receives 100% of funds raised through its corporate partnerships and initiatives.

While these brothers share a passion for soccer, every single flag bearer chosen has overcome significant medical challenges. Representing unity, pride, and the global spirit of the game, Coca-Cola is bringing these resilient young fans to the pitch for an unforgettable experience.

Meet the 12 inspiring Cook Children’s flag bearers heading to the World Cup:

Name: Christian Meza

Age: 15

Hometown: Arlington

Superpower: One of my greatest skills and talents is barbecuing and smoking food. I enjoy learning different cooking techniques, managing the smoker and making meals to enjoy outside. I am also really good at gaming on my PS5.

Medical goal: My goal is to achieve full remission from ulcerative colitis and support healing and recovery of my kidney health.

Favorite thing about Cook Children’s: I love the service the staff and care team provide. Everyone is always so nice.

Favorite soccer players: Cristiano Ronaldo and Gigi Buffon

Name: Cristo Hernandez

Age: 17

Hometown: Fort Worth

Superpower: Be able to build things quickly and focus on my goals.

Medical goal: To finish my treatment and be happy with myself.

Favorite thing about Cook Children’s: Seeing the dogs that help in the hospital and Peaks.

Favorite soccer player: Alvaro Fidalgo

Name: Dylan Gross

Age: 13

Hometown: Fort Worth

Superpower: Confidence

Medical goal: To not have my hemoglobin below 8-9

Favorite thing about Cook Children’s: They make me feel safe and comfortable.

Favorite soccer player: Messi

Name: Emily Avila

Age: 17

Hometown: Fort Worth

Superpower: Kind, sympathetic, attentive and compassionate

Medical goal: Being medicine free.

Favorite thing about Cook Children’s: I like the snacks, staff, care teams, AYA Careteam.

Favorite soccer team: Club América

Name: Jaden Lowery

Age: 16

Hometown: Grand Prairie

Superpower: Bringing positivity and encouragement to the people around me, even during difficult situations

Medical win: Beating leukemia lymphoma at the age of six.

Favorite thing about Cook Children’s: The inviting staff and the way they make everyone feel welcome

Favorite soccer player: Alejandro Balde
Name: Kian Francis

Age: 16

Hometown: San Angelo

Medical Goal: Remission in 2 months.

Favorite thing about Cook Children’s: People and popcorn at Goodies to Go.

Name: Landon Meza

Age: 14

Hometown: Arlington

Superpower: Being creative, building things and figuring out how stuff works. I really enjoy robotics and STEM activities because they let me solve problems, think outside the box while creating cool projects.

Medical goal: Be healthy overall and continue to manage my asthma.

Favorite thing about Cook Children’s: The game room, the nice care team and the café.

Favorite soccer players: Cristiano Ronaldo and Landon Donovan

Name: Gunnar Stovall

Age: 17

Hometown: Grandview/Alvardo

Superpower: Powerlifting

Medical Win: I feel like my win is learning that my diagnosis (all of them) are life long and that I have to take it day by day and push through. 

Favorite thing about Cook Children’s: Nurse and doctors are nice and always want to help.

Favorite soccer player: Messi

Name: Molly Hipple

Age: 13

Hometown: Abilene

Superpower: Playing the trombone.

Medical goal: For my hair to grow back.

Favorite thing about Cook Children’s: Seeing Steve and Bianca.

Name: Noa Davila

Age: 17

Hometown: Euless

Superpower: Goalkeeper skills

Medical win: Beating Cancer

Favorite thing about Cook Children’s: The loving staff.

Favorite soccer player: Federico Valverde

Name: Sergio Herrera

Age: 17

Hometown: North Richland Hills

Superpower: Reading

Favorite thing about Cook Children’s: Everyone’s very nice.

Favorite soccer player: Vini Jr.

Name: Wesley Duncan

Age: 16

Hometown: Weatherford

Superpower: I’m proud of my ability to be able to understand computers and coding.

Medical win: Being alive right now, I consider myself lucky to be living day after day, and I treat every day as if it’s a treasure.

Favorite thing about Cook Children’s: My favorite thing about Cook’s is the friendly nurses that take care of us as patients, my nurses are more like some of my best friends than people who take care of me.

The post From Treatment to the Pitch first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.