Verizon surprises fan with 2026 World Cup tickets

Angel City FC star Gisele Thompson delivers the 'Golden Call' to Jacob Lauderdale, who will attend the USMNT's opening match with his brother.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 11:18pm

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Verizon has teamed up with Angel City FC player Gisele Thompson to surprise 20 fans with free tickets to the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup. One of the lucky winners is Jacob Lauderdale, a longtime soccer fan from Southern California who will be attending the USMNT's opening match against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium with his brother Owen.

Why it matters

Verizon's partnership with top soccer players like Gisele Thompson to surprise fans with once-in-a-lifetime World Cup experiences helps build excitement for the 2026 tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The details

Lauderdale, who grew up playing soccer and attending LA Galaxy matches, was shocked when he received a video call from Thompson and was then told he had won two tickets to the USMNT's opening match. He plans to take his younger brother Owen, who introduced him to the sport, to experience the game from the best seats.

  • Lauderdale won the 'Golden Call' and tickets on March 14, 2026.
  • The USMNT will play their opening match against Paraguay on June 12, 2026 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

The players

Gisele Thompson

An Angel City FC player who surprised Lauderdale with the World Cup ticket announcement.

Jacob Lauderdale

A longtime soccer fan from Southern California who won two tickets to the USMNT's opening match at the 2026 World Cup.

Owen Lauderdale

Jacob's younger brother, who introduced him to soccer and will be attending the World Cup match with him.

Verizon

The official telecommunication services sponsor for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA and Canada, who partnered with players like Gisele Thompson to surprise fans with ticket giveaways.

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What they’re saying

“I loved the surprise element of these video calls - it felt like I was sharing a secret directly with the fans. Delivering a 'Golden Ticket' to someone in their own home, whether they're in LA or heading to a match in Atlanta, makes the whole experience feel so personal. Hearing their questions about my career and seeing their passion for the sport reminds me why we play. This partnership with Verizon makes the connection personal, and it was an honor to be the one to deliver that life-changing news.”

— Gisele Thompson (yahoo.com)

“Growing up, I've been a very introverted person. I grew up learning how to code and play with computers, and soccer was the one thing that kind of took me out of that and allowed me to really find family, friends, a passion for sport, and really helped me be a social person.”

— Jacob Lauderdale (The Sporting Tribune)

“He was the left wing. I was a right-winger. So we just played off of each other, and it was a really cool experience. Now getting to share this with my brother is, like, a whole other level of insanity.”

— Jacob Lauderdale (yahoo.com)

What’s next

Lauderdale and his brother Owen will attend the USMNT's opening match against Paraguay on June 12, 2026 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

The takeaway

Verizon's creative fan engagement efforts, like surprising passionate soccer fans with exclusive World Cup experiences, help build excitement and community around the 2026 tournament that will be hosted across North America.