"I'd rather have a whole bunch of 'oh wells' in my life than a bunch of 'what ifs.'" That line from Chris Hill explains exactly why a former professional soccer player from Farmingdale, New Jersey is about to stand on the MetLife Stadium pitch before Argentina and Spain contest the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19.
Hill won Michelob Ultra's "Superior Player of the Match" contest — a 90-second Instagram video application that drew thousands of entries — and walked away with $90,000, two tickets to the biggest match in football, and a ceremonial role as Chief Trophy Officer on the day. He's taking his father.
It also happens to be his father's birthday.
A soccer life that earned this moment
This isn't a random lottery winner. Hill played Division I soccer at Villanova after transferring from Richmond, led the Wildcats in goals and points in his sophomore season before shifting to outside back — a move that helped anchor a defense that ranked in the country's top 12. After graduating, he signed with the Harrisburg City Islanders in the USL and spent three professional seasons there, training in Italy, Germany, and Argentina during the offseasons. He's since returned to Monmouth County and co-founded ART Soccer, a youth training group serving players across the Shore Conference.
He also attended the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar and watched Messi lift the trophy from the stands. Sunday, he'll be on the field before kickoff.
Why the father-son angle actually matters here
Hill's father — a retired Howell police sergeant and current CEO of the National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues — spent years driving him to training sessions, playing in the backyard, and backing a kid that plenty of people told would never reach Division I. "Sports has always been our thing," Hill said. "I've always wanted to be able to give something back to him."
The fact that the final lands on his father's birthday is the kind of detail a screenwriter would cut for being too convenient.
Argentina and Spain kick off at 3 p.m. ET on FOX. Hill will be watching from closer than almost anyone on the planet.
