‘It was really exciting and fun to watch’

You’d be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t gotten caught up in World Cup fever and some local youngsters had the experience of a lifetime when they got to go to a game recently. Local World Cup semi-final and final watch parties are coming up next week at Doyle Field in Leominster on July 15 and Sunday, July 19.

A group of Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster members were invited to attend the June 23 England vs. Ghana match at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. Gov. Maura Healey gifted tickets to the Leominster branch of the nonprofit organization, some of more than 1,100 free FIFA World Club tickets for games in Massachsuetts given to youth organizations locations across the Commonwealth thanks to a generous donation by Airbnb.

Leominster resident Christian Romero was one of those fortunate to get one. A member of the Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster for two years and an avid soccer player for longer than that, the rising 7th grader at Sky View Middle School was thrilled to attend the match that England won 3-0 but the score didn’t matter to him.

“It was really exciting and fun to watch the game,” the 12-year-old said. “One of my favorite parts was celebrating with the Ghanaian fans because they brought so much energy and excitement to the stadium. As I was watching the game, I kept thinking about myself playing on a field like that one day. It inspired me to keep working hard and chasing my dream of becoming a professional soccer player.”

His mom Eladia Romero got to tag along as a chaperone and said they were “thrilled and very appreciative to the governor” for the opportunity.

“It was truly an amazing experience,” she said, adding that she was “honored to be asked to serve as a parent chaperone.”

Romero has served on the Leominster City Council since January and is the regional manager for the office of Congressman Jim McGovern. She remembers thinking when World Cup tickets first went on sale that there was no way she and her son would be able to see a game in person because they were “simply out of reach” financially.

“That’s why I was so grateful when Governor Healey announced she was donating tickets to youth-serving organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club of Leominster and Fitchburg,” she said.

She said that the day Christian found out he had been selected to go to the match, “he came home overflowing with excitement.”

“Being able to experience this unforgettable day alongside him was an incredible blessing,” Romero said. “We are deeply thankful to Governor Healey and everyone who made this opportunity possible. The best part? Christian told me that one day, when he’s playing in the World Cup for the United States or Honduras, he’s going to donate tickets to the Boys & Girls Club so other kids can experience the same joy. As a parent, there is no greater feeling than seeing your child inspired to dream big and give back.”

For those not able to attend a game themselves, the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association in partnership with U.S. Soccer’s Soccer Forward Foundation is holding a statewide series of festival-style watch parties celebrating the game so many people love and the cultures that make the World Cup special. There are several options locally including three in the Twin Cities — the semi-final watch party on Thursday, July 16 at Doyle Field in Leominster and the final watch party on Sunday, July 19 — both at Doyle Field and Coolidge Park in Fitchburg.

All of those begin at 2 p.m. and will be filled with fun for the whole family, including a giant LED screen, inflatable soccer fields, interactive games and activities for all ages, and more. To register for free tickets, visit mayouthsoccer.org/event/mass-youth-soccer-festival/ and select the location of your choice.