science
Teen cancer survivor selected as flag bearer for Boston World Cup game
A 13-year-old who completed treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma nearly three years ago will carry a national flag at Gillette Stadium on Saturday. The appearance is part of a program involving a dozen current and former patients from Boston Children’s Hospital.
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A 13-year-old from the Boston area who finished treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma nearly three years ago will serve as one of the official flag bearers at the city’s first 2026 World Cup match. The teen received the diagnosis in July 2023 after a swollen neck prompted medical visits that led to Boston Children’s Hospital.
Treatment included five months of chemotherapy, after which the patient entered remission by November 2023.
Flag ceremony details On Saturday night the teen will join 11 other current and former Boston Children’s patients to carry the flags of Haiti and Scotland onto the field before the match at Gillette Stadium, now called Boston Stadium during the tournament.
The group is part of the Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup 2026 Flag Bearers program. A director of cause marketing at the hospital said the hospital views the event as an opportunity for patients to participate in the city’s World Cup activities. Similar flag-bearer roles are planned for childhood cancer survivors in other host cities.
Family perspective The teen’s parents described the selection as a moment of pride and gratitude, noting that the invitation arrived via email in early March. The family said the hospital’s programs allow patients to remain connected after treatment.
The teen, now a seventh grader at a school in Newton, is expected to transition to a survivorship clinic after the most recent three-month check-up. m. kickoff with one parent after the flag ceremony.
