13-Year-Old STEM Leader and Robotics World Championship Runner-Up to Participate in the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Bronze Final

LAPost / Arcadia, California (Reporter Richard Ren) — July 5, 2026 Atticus Guo, a 13-year-old student from Arcadia, California, has been selected as an official FIFA Flag Bearer for the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Bronze Final. A Presidential Youth Ambassador, VEX Robotics World Championship runner-up, and USACO Gold competitor, Atticus has built a strong record of achievement in STEM, leadership, and community service.

As part of the official pre-match ceremony, Atticus will join a select group of youth participants entrusted with carrying the FIFA flag onto the field before thousands of spectators in attendance and millions of viewers worldwide. The role is considered a special honor that reflects the values of teamwork, leadership, and global unity celebrated by the FIFA World Cup.

While soccer fans will see Atticus on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages during the Opening Ceremony of the FIFA World Cup Bronze Final on July 18, 2026, he has already earned recognition through his achievements in robotics, computer science, and youth leadership.

Atticus is a four-time California State Champion and three-time U.S. Open National Champion in VEX Robotics. In 2025, he led his team to a world runner-up finish at the VEX Robotics World Championship, one of the largest and most competitive youth robotics competitions in the world.

Throughout his robotics career, he has served as team captain, lead programmer, robot designer/builder, and primary driver, helping guide his team to consistent success at the state, national, and international levels.

In addition to robotics, Atticus has distinguished himself in computer science. He is a USACO Gold competitor in the USA Computing Olympiad program, placing him among the nation’s top young programming students.

Beyond his accomplishments in robotics and computer science, Atticus has demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership and civic engagement. In 2026, he was selected as a Presidential Youth Ambassador through a leadership program jointly administered by the Richard Nixon Foundation and the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum.

Atticus is also passionate about using technology to serve others. In 2024, he co-founded the National Youth Innovation Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding STEM education opportunities for young people. Through the organization, he has mentored younger students, helped introduce engineering and programming concepts to beginners, and founded a robotics club for children with autism in collaboration with the Franklin Foundation.

Atticus also developed and published an AI-powered educational application designed to support learning and engagement for children. The project received First Place in the Middle School Division of the 2025 Google IgniteCS Expo and was later published on the Apple App Store.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is the largest FIFA World Cup in history. The Bronze Final will feature two semifinalist national teams competing for third place, while the opening ceremony will celebrate the international spirit of the tournament.

“Being selected as an official FIFA Flag Bearer for the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Bronze Final is an incredible honor,” said Atticus. “I am excited to be part of an event that brings people together from around the world and inspires millions through teamwork, dedication, and sportsmanship.”

From the robotics world stage to the FIFA World Cup, Atticus hopes his journey will inspire other young people to pursue ambitious goals, embrace new opportunities, and use their talents to make a positive impact on their communities.