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John Daley ReportingIt was the thrill of a lifetime today for one Utah County boy. As probably half the planet was watching the final of soccer's World Cup, he was there, actually taking the field before Italy and France faced off.
His name is Mateo and he's a huge soccer fan. Instead of watching the World Cup final at home like billions of people around the world, he won a contest and instead was in Berlin, at the center of the soccer universe.
Nine-year-old Mateo won a contest for a dream trip.
Mateo, Last Week: "I won the trip to the World Cup. I leave tomorrow. I need to be at the airport at 6:00 am."
The trip includes everything -- plane flight, three-star hotel, meals and best of all, the honor of a super-star visit to the playing field.
Mateo, Last Week "Like holding hands with somebody onto the field, in front of millions of people. I'm just so excited."
Fast forward to today as the world's biggest sporting event kicks off its final game. Mateo's family watches at home. They say he's having fun with some of the other kids.
John Tabares, Mateo's Father: "He was so excited. Oh yeah and he's making friends with this kid from China. There was another Italian kid, a kid of Germany, California."
He and his new friends even got to play on the field at the stadium in Berlin. As it gets closer to game time, his family watches intently for a glimpse of Mateo. Then, during the Italian national anthem, they spot him.
"There's Mateo! There's Mateo! There's Mateo! The second one there!"
With millions watching, he's where many would dream of being, maybe dreaming of coming back to the World Cup sometime as a player.
Mateo wanted to escort his pre-match hero Zinedin Zidane onto the field, but instead he ended with an Italian player. He may be glad about that, as Italy won and Zidane exited in disgrace, getting a red-card in overtime for head-butting an opponent in the chest.
So instead of Vive La France, Mateo may be happier saying Viva Italia.
Some local Italians gathered together to watch the big game. The Italian American Civic League organized a viewing party at Tony's Bar. The game was shown on six TV's and there was a free barbecue provided. Quite a crowd turned out.
The IACL is dedicated to creating a relationship between Italians in Utah and the community.
