The 49th Team Creating the Opening Moment of the FIFA World Cup 2026™
Kia creates the very first moment
of the FIFA World Cup™.
As the world watches,
the FIFA World Cup™ begins with OMBC.
The Official Match Ball Carrier (OMBC) is
a program operated by Kia,
inviting children onto the pitch
to deliver the official match ball
to the referee —
formally signaling
the start of the match. Each child is
personally selected and invited by Kia.
In that defining moment,
they step into the very heart
of the world's biggest stage.
As the largest FIFA World Cup™ in history
approaches in
2026, OMBC expands to a
new global stage: Kia OMBC Cup
2026™.
This program transforms into a worldwide
challenge, bringing together promising
young players
selected from ten countries to
compete in a newly
established youth
tournament.
Beyond the 48 teams of the FIFA World
Cup™, these
children come together as the
symbolic 49th team,
supported by Kia to
help shape the next chapter of the
tournament.
There is a moment when children from different backgrounds choose a
single dream and step forward with courage for the first time. For Kia OMBC
Cup 2026™, the future begins with that choice.
Kia stands alongside the children throughout
their journey. Guided by
football legends, they
embrace responsibility, growing step by step through
experience.
This story is not about final achievement, but about the moment they begin
moving toward their potential. Kia walks with them — from unseen first
challenges to the opening moments
of the FIFA World Cup™.
Children selected from around the world gather in Los
Angeles. Here, matches are
more than competition. They
become moments where mindset, courage, and possibility
are revealed. Kia OMBC Cup
2026™ goes beyond selection
— it is the first stage where young players bring their
dreams to life on the pitch.
the FIFA World Cup™
Across ten countries, seven young players per country are selected through local auditions.
The criteria extend beyond technical skill,
focusing on mindset, preparation, and commitment.
Children train under world-renowned football legends who serve as
both coaches and
mentors. Through training, guidance, and real
competition, they develop skill, character, and confidence. Here,
matches are about growth — not just winning.
Kia OMBC Cup 2026™ is a youth tournament where selected players form teams and
compete. The journey does not end with
selection —
on the pitch, they prove their
potential and create moments of
growth.
On the stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, children step onto the pitch not as
spectators,
but as those who help signal the opening moment of the match. Their
presence marks a new
chapter of the FIFA World Cup™.
The excitement that begins inside the
stadium extends far beyond it. As an official partner of
the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Kia expands the tournament experience — from mobility to connection.
Kia has long supported the mobility of players
and officials across
FIFA international tournaments, ensuring that every moment flows seamlessly.
Programs
From youth and women’s tournaments to futsal and the FIFA eWorld Cup™, Kia continues to support football’s future — staying closest to
the moment when the sport becomes a dream.
A global gathering place beyond the stadium, where Kia connects the passion of football with culture and celebration through mobility - centered experiences.
A space to experience the present and future of mobility. Through its
EV lineup, Kia shares its vision for electrification and sustainability.
OMBC has long invited children
to take part
in the opening
moment of the FIFA World Cup™.
The OMBC Cup transforms
their own challenge
into
an experience of growth.
And at the moment they deliver
the official match ball,
the match officially begins.
Kia continues the journey with
them at the FIFA
World Cup 2026™, ensuring their beginning
becomes part of the FIFA World
Cup™'s memory.
