How a SLAM student was tapped to be a flag bearer in Miami’s last World Cup match

Miami Gardens native Devon Georges always wanted to see the World Cup in person. Watching matches on TV as a kid, the 18-year-old dreamt of going one day but didn’t think it would happen because of how expensive tickets are.

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When he got a call from his mentor recently, the Haitian American teenager answered his phone as he normally would.

What Gale Nelson shared with him next surprised him.

“When Gale told me I would be a flag bearer, I asked, ‘What is that?’” Georges said.

Nelson, the president & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, asked Georges to look up what it meant to be a flag bearer at a World Cup game. Georges learned he would be one of nearly 70 volunteers who help carry giant flags for both teams onto the field.

On Saturday, Georges will be a part of the third-place match between France and England at Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium. The giant flag he will help carry covers more than 21,000 square feet.

Nelson said he considers moments like his phone call with Georges to be the highlights of his work.

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“He was like, ‘Big bro… This is crazy,’” Nelson said.

Georges is a junior at SLAM Miami, a charter school in Little Havana, and plays football for Booker T. Washington Senior High School. Playing sports has helped him build his leadership skills outside of the classroom, he said.

He’s been a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami since 2024. The experience has motivated him to take his leadership skills to a new level.

“It’s really important for me because at the end of the day, you should have the mindset of going out and helping others,” he said.

Georges is a big fan of Argentina legend Lionel Messi and prefers him over Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo. Though Georges won’t be able to watch either play on Saturday, Georges will be rooting for Messi when Argentina plays Spain for the World Cup championship on Sunday.

Nelson said he knows that Georges is capable of so much more than carrying the flag.

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“It’s going to be a life-changer for him,” Nelson said.