An 11-year-old Mongolian boy has created history – in Mongolia, at least – by becoming his country’s first match mascot at the FIFA World Cup. Ulziibat Amar accompanied a football player onto the pitch in Wednesday’s Group E match between Switzerland and Costa Rica at Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. A child, who accompanies a player out in front of the thousands of fans, is called a match mascot; this is a huge thrill and honour for any young athlete!

As part of an initiative sponsored by one of FIFA’s automotive partners, 64 children between the ages of 10-14 and from different countries have the opportunity to play a key role in the pre-match ceremony by carrying the match ball onto the field of play.

Ulziibat Amar was selected from more than 600 Mongolian children.