Two weeks after New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said free World Cup tickets would be given to children throughout the state, a soccer association has announced where many of them will go.
On June 9, Sherrill announced that Hackensack Meridian Health Care and other companies were underwriting 770 tickets for children and health care workers around New Jersey.
Days later, she announced that 250 more would be distributed through local YMCAs, Boys and Girls' Clubs, and other organizations.
On Friday, New Jersey Youth Soccer, which works with players and schools throughout the state, said they've begun distributing tickets via youth soccer teams in 18 towns and cities.
The children and their chaperones will have access to one of five different matches, said NJ Youth Soccer CEO Evan Dabby.
Children in these towns have gotten tickets:
Brazil v. Morocco match
France v. Senegal
Norway and Senegal (Monday night)
The tickets were largely distributed via towns and recreation soccer teams, a spokesperson said.
Ryan Tavares, 14, who plays soccer in Newark, was elated to see the Brazil match.
"My brother and I both started at Ironbound when we were 3 years old," he said. "Walking into a World Cup stadium together today was unreal. It motivated me so much to stick with the sport in the hope of one day being out there representing our country."
Andy Alvarez, a coach in Newark, said, "Seeing my little brother's eyes light up when he walked into the stadium was something I will never forget. I am thankful for the opportunity of a lifetime"
Distributed By Lottery
In Hoboken, the city came up with a lottery in which guardians entered their children, with a photo of them playing or enjoying soccer, via the town recreation website.
Four winning pairs of children and guardians were announced at one of the city's Big Match Block Party events on Friday night.
"I'm so excited that four of you are going to check out the game in real life," said Mayor Emily Jabbour.
The winners of tickets to Monday night's match were Alex Lefkowitz, Peter Nececkas, Max Chen, Olivia Romero-Abraham.
Four other children in the drawing, who were asked to be present on Friday, got to pick prizes such as Lego sets.
About 75 percent of the tickets designated for New Jersey Youth Soccer had been distributed by Friday, Green told Patch.
READ MORE: 770 World Cup Tickets Will Be Free For NJ Residents, Sherrill Says: Here's Who'll Get One
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