A six-year-old England fan from Lancashire is heading to the United States to walk out as a mascot before the World Cup.
CJ, from Blackburn, will travel to Orlando with his grandad, Paul Clegg, before England’s warm-up game against Costa Rica on 10 June.
CJ has supported England “my full life” and has been going to matches since he was two, Paul told the BBC.
The family thought CJ had missed out after hearing nothing by a supposed Wednesday deadline. An email arrived the next day inviting him to Orlando.
There, he will meet his favourite players, Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane and Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Paul said he was proud to see his grandson get the chance.
“I just hope that he follows my path because I’ve been to some amazing places around the world… I’ve been to so many different places following England,” he said.
“It’s not just the football – it’s the whole culture that surrounds it.”
Paul has been following England since the 1990s and said the atmosphere around supporters had changed since years when fans had a reputation for hooliganism.
“In 1998 – the first game that I attended in Marseille – it was like three days of proper civil war. It was horrendous,” he said.
“But things have changed since – England fans are welcomed around the world.
“There’s a different atmosphere around the England fans.”
He said taking CJ with him to Orlando would be “extra special”.
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