As the 2026 FIFA World Cup enters its final week, soccer fans across Houston are watching the world’s biggest tournament move toward its championship match on Sunday, July 19. For one Spring ISD student, however, the excitement surrounding the sport is about more than the games being played on television or inside packed stadiums.

At just 9 years old, McNabb Elementary student André Carrillo is building a soccer legacy of his own—one shaped by creativity, academic achievement and a desire to help other children experience the game he loves.

Through his growing YouTube channel, La Cancha Gamer, Carrillo combines soccer, video games and storytelling for audiences in Houston, Latin America and beyond. What began as a childhood idea has developed into a platform featuring professional player interviews, game-day coverage, soccer challenges and conversations about the sport.

His work has also created opportunities with the Houston Dynamo organization and introduced him to current and former professional soccer players whom many young fans only see from the stands or on a screen.

Still, Carrillo’s family says recognition is not what drives him.

“I want to make money to help kids,” Carrillo said. “Maybe buy equipment for them or even have a team where kids can play for free.”

Helping Houston Children Experience the Game

Carrillo’s goal is already taking shape in practical ways.

According to his parents, Rebeca Martinez and Jonatan Carrillo, he regularly uses money he earns or saves to purchase soccer equipment and prizes for other children. Cleats, shin guards, jerseys and other gear can become costly for families, and Carrillo wants more young players to have the opportunity to participate regardless of what they can afford.

He has also made a tradition of surprising young soccer fans with tickets to professional matches, allowing children and their families to experience the energy of live soccer in Houston.

“It makes me feel good because I can share with friends and other people,” Carrillo said. “We can become friends, play together and have fun.”

That generosity has turned La Cancha Gamer into more than a youth soccer YouTube channel. It has become a way for Carrillo to connect families, welcome children into the sport and use his growing audience to serve others.

For parents searching for youth soccer opportunities in Houston or ways to help children become involved in the game, his story also highlights the difference one young person can make by sharing what he has.

La Cancha Gamer Connects Spanish-Speaking Soccer Fans

Long before Carrillo began interviewing professional athletes, he was a young fan looking for a creative way to talk about soccer.

When he first asked to start a YouTube channel, his parents gave him the choice of creating videos in English or Spanish. Carrillo saw an opportunity to serve an audience that he believed needed more youth-focused soccer content.

“When André told us he wanted a YouTube channel, we asked if he wanted to create content in English or Spanish,” his father, Jonatan Carrillo, said. “He told us there were already a lot of English-speaking creators. He wanted to create content for Spanish speakers.”

That choice has helped Carrillo connect with Spanish-speaking soccer fans and families throughout the Houston area, across Latin America and in other communities where enthusiasm for the sport runs deep.

His bilingual perspective also reflects the families and cultures that make up Houston’s soccer community. As the region welcomes international attention connected to the FIFA World Cup, Carrillo is showing how local young people can help make the sport more accessible and inclusive.

Spring ISD Education Remains the Priority

As Carrillo’s online audience and soccer opportunities have grown, his parents have worked to keep education at the center of his life.

“Spring ISD has played an important role in his growth, encouraging his academic success while supporting his interests beyond the classroom,” Jonatan Carrillo said.

Carrillo is a strong student who especially enjoys mathematics and learning new concepts. He balances schoolwork with soccer training, content creation, interviews and community involvement, while his family continues to emphasize that academics come first.

Teachers at McNabb Elementary say the determination viewers see in his soccer content is also present in the classroom.

“André is a kind, hardworking student who leads by example every day,” said Vivian Llorente, a bilingual teacher at McNabb Elementary School. “His love for learning is matched only by his passion for soccer, and it’s been incredible to watch him channel that enthusiasm into both academic success and creative pursuits. We are so proud of all he has accomplished and can’t wait to see where his talents take him next.”

For the Spring ISD community, Carrillo’s story offers an example of how schools, families and extracurricular opportunities can work together to help children explore their interests without losing sight of their education.

Building Confidence On and Off Camera

Carrillo’s journey has included moments of uncertainty. Although he appears comfortable interviewing athletes and speaking to soccer fans, he admits that going live and talking in front of a camera can still be intimidating.

“A lot of times I’m nervous doing live videos,” Carrillo said. “Sometimes I feel shy.”

Each interview and broadcast gives him another opportunity to move beyond that nervousness. Through content creation, he has strengthened his public-speaking abilities, leadership skills and confidence—skills that can continue serving him in the classroom and wherever his soccer journey leads.

His progress carries added meaning for his family. Born with significant medical challenges, Carrillo required specialized care during his first year of life. At the time, his parents faced uncertainty about what his future might hold.

Today, he is thriving as a student, content creator, aspiring athlete and young community advocate.

Away from the camera, Carrillo continues developing his game through training with Tigres Soccer Academy and HTX Soccer. He hopes to become a professional soccer player one day, while continuing to grow the platform he has created.

A Soccer Legacy Measured by Opportunities, Not Only Goals

The FIFA World Cup 2026 final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at New York New Jersey Stadium, bringing the 48-team international tournament to a close.

For Carrillo, the conclusion of the tournament will not mark the end of the excitement surrounding soccer. His own journey is still in its earliest stages.

Whether he is training on the field, solving a math problem at McNabb Elementary, interviewing a professional athlete or giving another child a pair of cleats, Carrillo is learning that influence does not depend on age.

His story shows that soccer’s impact is not measured only in goals, trophies or championships. It can also be found in a child receiving equipment, a family attending its first professional match or a young Spanish-speaking fan discovering a place where someone speaks directly to their community.

As Carrillo continues pursuing his dreams, Spring ISD families and Houston soccer fans will have the opportunity to watch a young player build something larger than an online following: a legacy grounded in service, friendship and a belief that more children deserve a chance to play.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more stories about Spring ISD students, Houston youth sports and local families making a difference in their communities.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.