An 11-year-old who thought he was headed to the dentist suddenly lit up and jumped into his mom’s arms when she instead surprised him with tickets to his first-ever Mexico soccer game that day.
Aiden Mireles, from Olive Branch, Mississippi, has been a huge soccer fan for years, his mom, Cindy, 30, said.
When his interest in the sport first started, Aiden had to wait patiently to get on a team because of COVID cancellations, but now, having started playing competitive games, Aiden practices three times a week, has games twice a week, and travels out of town for tournaments.
Given how much her son loves the sport – and Mexico’s international team – Cindy said she knew exactly what to do while scrolling through Facebook and seeing an advertisement for the Mexico vs. South Korea game that was set to take place in Nashville, Tennessee.
Having purchased tickets, Cindy said the only excuse she could think of for a surprise was a dental appointment, as Aiden had been waiting to have two teeth removed.
On September 9, having even secretly recorded her son brushing his teeth, Cindy got in the car with Aiden and started to make the three-hour trip to the stadium.
An hour into the journey, Aiden started to ask if they were almost at the dentist, and so Cindy knew she had to break the exciting news.
Having pulled over – and with a video rolling on the dashboard – Cindy presented her son with a Mexico jersey, which saw Aiden’s face immediately light up as he knew where he was headed.
Want more good news? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter - Smileworthy. It's a weekly 5-minute read packed with uplifting stories, positive news and tips for living life more Happily. Oh, and it's free! https://smileworthy.beehiiv.com/subscribe
The 11-year-old then joyously jumped into his mother’s arms for an emotional hug.
Cindy later captured the pair’s travels and the fun time they had at the game, which she shared on TikTok.
She said: “Aiden’s interest in soccer started very early on – and seeing him grow so much in soccer, we decided to give competitive soccer a try, and man has it changed our lives.
“I came across the flyer of the Mexico vs. Korea game taking place in Nashville, and I immediately thought, Aiden would love this.
“Traveling to the surprise, I stopped mid-point in Jackson, Tennessee, and that’s when I started recording, giving him his jersey and flag.
“He had no words; his excitement was all over his face, making him go speechless and tear up, hugging me so tight.
“Once we made it to the game, he was so happy he would turn and stare everywhere.
“I must say, the most heartwarming part of the night was seeing him cheer and jump when Mexico would score a goal.
“As a mother, I truly live for moments like these.
“He changed my life for the better, and I feel blessed to make these unforgettable memories together.
