Portuguese soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo made history by becoming the first person to score in six World Cup tournaments. This milestone was part of an unforgettable experience for Mark Garcia, a Portugal fan and U.S. Army veteran, who was among hundreds of veterans receiving free tickets to World Cup matches. Garcia and his wife attended the Portugal-Uzbekistan match after winning a lottery through Vet Tix, a nonprofit that provides free event tickets to military service members, veterans, and families of those killed in action. For the World Cup, Bank of America and Vet Tix funded nearly 5,000 tickets for military members, veterans, and first responders in the U.S. host cities. Another veteran, Peter Farley, attended the Iraq-Norway match with an interpreter he met during his deployment to Iraq. This reunion was a full-circle moment for Farley, who had introduced the interpreter to American football. Despite Iraq’s loss, the experience was memorable for both.
QUESTION: How might attending significant events like the World Cup impact veterans and their families?
Hundreds of veterans snag World Cup tickets
