Again this year, youngsters are escorting the FIFA World Cup players onto the field for matches.

About 1,400 boys and girls in all will serve as Player Escorts for 66 matches in 11 host cities in the U.S. Cities in co-hosts Canada and Mexico will have similar activities, which also include escorting the referee and even carrying the game ball.

It all started in 2002, when the World Cup was in South Korea. Then, the initiative was a partnership between FIFA and UNICEF called Say yes for Children, which aimed "to promote and protect the right of all children to healthy recreation and quality primary education."

The practice has continued, not only at the World Cup but also at other soccer events (both men's and women's) around the world.