The image of professional soccer players walking out onto the pitch, holding hands with children in team uniform, has become an indispensable part of the pre-match ritual in many major soccer tournaments around the world. This is not only a symbolic act but also has a profound meaning about humanity, sportsmanship and social responsibility. The article below Bestsoccertips.com will explain in detail why do soccer players walk out with kids.
Why do soccer players walk out with kids?
Soccer players often walk onto the field with children before each match for many meaningful and symbolic reasons:
1. Symbol of innocence and noble sportsmanship
Children have long been considered a symbol of innocence, naivety and not affected by conflicts or pressures in life. When stepping onto the field with the players, the children bring an important message about the innocence and noble sportsmanship that football always aims for.
In the context of football becoming increasingly competitive and sometimes affected by negative factors such as violence or discrimination, the image of children accompanying the players helps remind everyone that the core values of sports are still fairness, solidarity and the joy of playing football.
2. Inspiring and nurturing passion for football in the young generation
Children always consider professional football players as idols, heroes in their eyes. Stepping onto the field with their idols is not only a dream come true but also an opportunity for them to feel their passion for football closer than ever.
This action arouses the excitement and desire to conquer the field in the hearts of children, helping to nurture a young generation who love sports. Many famous players today, such as Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, have shared that they once wished to be close to football legends when they were young.
Bringing children to the field also helps football clubs and tournaments build strong connections with the community, especially with families and young audiences.
3. Convey meaningful social messages
Many major football tournaments and organizations in the world, such as FIFA, UEFA or the Premier League, often take advantage of the ritual of children accompanying players to convey positive social messages.
For example, children appearing on the pitch sometimes wear T-shirts or carry banners with messages such as:
- “Say No to Racism”
- “Respect”
- “Kick Out Violence”
Through the image of children – the most protected and cared for group in society – these campaigns receive widespread attention from global fans. This highlights the social responsibility of football, which goes beyond the purely sporting scope.
4. Increase humanity and create media appeal
The image of children happily stepping onto the field with the players not only brings a pleasant and warm feeling but also increases the human value of tournaments. This is also a way for football teams and organizers to receive sympathy from fans.
In addition, these moments often create strong media appeal. The image of a famous player holding hands with a boy or girl with a bright smile easily attracts millions of views and shares on social networks, thereby increasing attention and promoting the match or tournament.
5. Maintain a beautiful tradition in football
Players holding hands with children onto the field is not a new idea but has appeared for decades. This ritual is said to originate from major tournaments in Europe, where football teams want to emphasize the value of connection between sports and the community.
Gradually, this tradition spread throughout the world, becoming an indispensable part of professional football events. Each team and each tournament has its own way of doing it, but the common point is still to honor the value of football as a sport for people.
6. How players can bond with fans
When players step onto the pitch with children, they have the opportunity to show their closeness and friendliness to fans. This breaks the image of distant stars and replaces it with the image of ordinary people, ready to create joy and inspiration for the younger generation.
Children holding hands with players not only feel proud but also bring joy and emotion to their families and communities. This is a great way for football to connect different generations in society.
Conclusion
So through the above article, you have learned “why do soccer players walk out with kids?”. The act of soccer players walking out onto the field with children is a meaningful tradition, reflecting the humanistic spirit, social responsibility and noble values of soccer. This is not only a pre-match ritual but also a way for soccer to spread positive messages, inspire and build strong connections with the community. Soccer, more than just a sport, always knows how to touch people’s hearts, and the image of children on the field is the clearest proof of that.
See more: FIFA announces 2026 world cup host cities predictions