Ordos student Lyu Yuchen. [Photo/Ordos Integrated Media Center]

An eighth-grade student from Ordos city, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, stepped onto the global stage as a flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Lyu Yuchen, a student at Dalad Banner No 5 Middle School in Ordos, was selected as the city's only representative among six young people from Inner Mongolia chosen to carry the FIFA flag before the tournament's opening match at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium on June 12 (Beijing time).

The 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico City. [Photo/Ordos Integrated Media Center]

A football enthusiast since kindergarten, Lyu currently serves as captain of her grade's girls' football team and trains for about two hours each day. Her coach praised her exceptional football talent and competitive spirit, describing her as a decisive player with strong organizational skills on the field.

Before departing for Mexico, Lyu and the other five selected students attended a send-off ceremony in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia's capital city, on June 9.