Winnipeg teens getting chance of a lifetime at FIFA World Cup

Two Winnipeg teens have received the opportunity of a lifetime at the FIFA World Cup. CTV's Devon McKendrick explains.

The FIFA World Cup is here, and Canada has taken centre stage as one of three host countries for the month-long event.

A pair of Winnipeg teens will be part of that centre stage as they are getting to experience an opportunity of a lifetime.

Aiden Karacsony and Cristiano Morais will each get the chance to bring the game ball to centre field ahead of one of the matches at the World Cup.

“I begged my parents. I’m like, ‘Can we please do this?’ And they’re like, ‘OK, let’s do this’,” said Morais.

Karacsony is also excited about the opportunity but isn’t trying to think about it too much just yet.

“It makes me nervous sometimes…(Just focused on) walking normally, trying not to trip,” he said with a laugh.

To get to this point, though, has been quite the journey. Both teens play futsal, along with soccer, and it was their futsal coach that helped get everything started.

Futsal is a lot like soccer, except it is played indoors, with a heavier ball, five-on-five and it moves at a much faster pace.

“I think it has a very big impact on how the kids develop, even to soccer, a lot of these skills translate to soccer and helps them a lot to get more touches on the ball, quick decision-making and all those things that are important for outdoor soccer as well,” said Anderson Pereira, the coach of the Pioneers Futsal Club in Winnipeg.

Pereira heard about tryouts being held across the country. He was able to secure spots in Edmonton for some of the kids on his team, including Karacsony and Morais.

The pair impressed with their skills and got invited to the national tryouts in Toronto.

“I focused on myself a lot,” said Karacsony. “That’s one of the key things, just focusing on yourself and focusing on what you can control.”

“My heart was racing. I had so much adrenaline in me. It was just indescribable,” said Morais.

Only 25 kids were chosen for the Toronto tryouts, with seven being selected from that group to be named ball carriers.

“In Toronto, the competition was like no other. The kids were really big, they’re tall, they’re fast, they’re stronger, and I really had to work harder because I’m not the biggest player,” said Morais.

The seven selected made up Team Canada and got to go down to LA to play against other futsal teams from around the world.

Both Karacsony and Morais were able to go all the way.

“Super exciting. It was unbelievable. It’s like a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing,” said Karacsony.

“They had a lot of fun. A great experience for them and now they get to go to a World Cup game and be the official match ball carrier,” said Pereira.

Aiden’s dad Terence Karacsony said being able to watch his son have so much success culminating in this World Cup experience has been so much fun.

“It feels great. I’m here as part of his overall soccer journey, and for me, it’s helping him realize his dreams and that’s what it’s all about as a parent,” said Terence.

Morais will be the official ball carrier for the June 17 match in Toronto between Ghana and Panama, while Karacsony will be in Vancouver on July 2 for the Round of 32 match that day.

“He’s going to remember it for the rest of his life and I couldn’t be happier for him,” said Terence.