​For as long as Chris Hill can remember, soccer has been more than a game.It has taken the Farmingdale native from the playing pitches of Howell High School to Division I soccer, professional stadiums and countries around the world. It introduced him to lifelong friends while shaping his career and eventually brought him back home, where he’s now helping develop the next generation of players.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis weekend, the game is giving him something else.Hill was selected as the winner of the Michelob Ultra “Superior Player of the Match” contest, earning a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final Sunday (July 19), when Argentina and Spain play at MetLife Stadium (3 p.m., FOX). Along with receiving $90,000 and serving as the tournament’s ceremonial Chief Trophy Officer, Hill will share the experience with the person who helped start it all — his father, Chris Hill.”It’s unbelievable,” Hill said. “I’m still waiting to wake up from this dream. It’s becoming more of a reality with each passing day.”Shore resident Chris Hill was selected as the winner of the Michelob Ultra “Superior Player of the Match” contest, earning a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final Sunday (July 19) at MetLife Stadium – he’ll receive $90,000, game tickets for himself and his father and will serve as the tournament’s ceremonial “Chief Trophy Officer.”Fans begin to flock to the stadium before a FIFA World Cup Group C match between Brazil and Morocco at New York New Jersey Stadium on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.The timing makes the moment even more meaningful.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe World Cup final falls on his father’s birthday.”I’ve always wanted to be able to give something back to him,” Hill said. “To be able to do this, and it also being on his birthday, is legitimately a dream come true.”His father, a retired Howell police sergeant and current chief executive officer of the National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues, spent countless hours driving the younger Chris to practices, kicking the ball around after school and encouraging the boy’s love of sports.”Sports has always been our thing,” Hill said. “Whether it was soccer, football, basketball — whatever it was — sports has always been what we did together.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHill’s soccer journey began after watching his older sister play. Before long, he was playing for Howell’s local soccer club before joining Tab Ramos’ academy powerhouse NJSA 04 during his high school years.At Howell High School, the 2012 graduate cracked the varsity lineup as a freshman, a moment he said helped convince him he could compete at the Division I level.”I think probably in high school I realized Division I was possible,” Hill said. “Playing varsity as a freshman and academy soccer gave me that confidence.”Not everyone shared that belief.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”