​After New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill kicked off the World Cup by announcing hundreds of free tickets, some South Jersey kids were able to score big and attend a game.When the free tickets were first introduced, it was noted that some tickets would go to New Jersey youth soccer players from “undeserved communities across the state.” Shortly after the announcement, Sherrill’s team reached out to several in South Jersey towns, including some in Atlantic City.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“When we got the call from the governor’s office, we went into panic mode,” Mike Griffin, the city’s director of recreation, said.“We got eight tickets, so it was immediately like, ‘What are we going to do? Who are we going to decide to go?’ Everyone would be wanting this experience.”New to South Jersey: These 7 food, drink, treat establishments just opened in South JerseyWith help from the city’s board of education athletic director, six soccer-loving kids were selected to receive tickets. The other two tickets went to employees at the City of Atlantic City office who served as chaperones.The mix of middle school and high school kids came from Atlantic City High School, Uptown School Complex, Richmond Avenue School and Sovereign Avenue School.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThose six students, along with more kids from Camden and Burlington, attended the Norway versus Senegal game June 22 at New York New Jersey Stadium.“The World Cup game gave us positive experiences by bringing us excitement, teamwork and unforgettable moments that showed the power of sports to connect people,” 14-year-old Miguel Cortes-Mexica from Camden said.Kids from various South Jersey neighborhoods were given free tickets to the Norway versus Senegal World Cup game on June 22.Fellow Camden resident Chris Maldonado, 14, noted how special the game was.“The game was an overall great experience,” Maldonado said. “The anticipation of the game and especially the game itself which is something I never thought I would be able to do. Being with the people I know and love made it better and definitely something to remember.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCarl Cochran, Atlantic City’s recreation coordinator who attended the game as a chaperone, recalled how engaged all the kids were from the moment they entered the stadium.“They went right into it like they were supposed to be there, participated in some of the activities and just had a fun experience overall,” Cochran said. “It was really a once in a lifetime experience, even for myself.”Upcoming events: Deptford church plans free health fairAccording to Griffin, not many people from South Jersey were able to attend World Cup games, making the opportunity to attend even more special.“The fact that kids actually had the golden opportunity to witness that game live and in-person and go to a real-life World Cup game in 2026 is an invaluable memory,” Griffin said. “We just want to