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Saudi Arabia delegation signs Ismachiah's climate ball in Qatar, 2022.

Santa Clarita Eighth Grader Brings Climate Ball To Qatar World Cup

On the trip of a lifetime, Santa Clarita eighth grader and soccer fan Ismachiah Oduwole traveled to Qatar to view the World Cup, taking the opportunity to also raise awareness for climate change. 

Oduwole, 12, from Santa Clarita found out that he would be going to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar from his parents, who had saved for 10 months to afford the journey. From that moment, he had 24 hours to pack. 

Ismachiah watches the U.S. game in Qatar.

Just 12 hours before his flight he had an idea: “What if I took a soccer ball and explained why more people should do things that help reduce the causes and impact of climate change,” Oduwole asked himself?

With ball in hand, Oduwole found players, sports officials and fans willing to sign what he dubbed the “climate ball.”

People from South America, Europe, Africa, North America, Middle- East and Asia, lined up to sign his ball for the climate in Qatar. 

“I don’t have a big stage to speak, but I can get everyone onto my small stage, to think about our planet, especially Climate,” said Oduwole. 

On the Doha train, in restaurants, after a football game, in the Souks, and on the streets, everyone from an entire football federation delegation from Saudi Arabia signed the ball to show they would do more for climate mitigation when they get back home.

“I have done something besides just watching the U.S game in Qatar. It’s up to you all now, to do something too, on climate,” Oduwole said.


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Santa Clarita Eighth Grader Brings Climate Ball To Qatar World Cup

One comment

  1. How did he get to the country ?
    By a plane I suppose and he’s toting climate change – How hypocritical of him & his parents !!

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About Linsey Towles

Linsey Towles is currently a sophomore and journalism major at College of the Canyons and graduated from Saugus High School in 2021. She began as an intern at KHTS in Fall 2020 and was hired in June as staff writer for the news team where she covers breaking and feature news.