Verizon launches new loyalty program with exclusive perks and experiences like VIP access to sporting events.
10-year-old Bailey DeWitt wins Verizon contest, attends historic World Cup match between Spain and Cabo Verde in Atlanta.
Verizon’s ‘No One Gets You Closer’ promise allows Bailey’s family to experience the fight from an unparalleled perspective.
It was still early Monday morning when fans began flooding downtown Atlanta for one of the most anticipated FIFA World Cup matches held at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Participants had been encouraged to arrive early due to expected traffic. When I arrived, the city was already buzzing. Helicopters hovered overhead as crowds of supporters poured into the streets. Cars crawled through packed roads as fans with team flags and jerseys made their way to the stadium.
Source: Lauryn Bass / @itslaurynbass
This year’s tournament marks the first FIFA World Cup to be held in Atlanta, making the atmosphere even more electric. The match between Cabo Verde and Spain carried its own layer of significance. While Spain entered as a World Cup veteran expected by many to dominate, Cabo Verde made history with its first ever appearance on football’s biggest stage.
That contrast created an atmosphere filled with pride, culture and excitement.
Source: Verizon / FIFA World Cup with Verizon
Everywhere I looked there were FIFA banners and branding, tailgates filled with families and friends, food trucks serving hungry fans, souvenir stands selling memorabilia and supporters waving flags from around the world. The weather was near perfect as cheers rang out throughout the city blocks around the stadium.
Among the thousands of fans who took in the historic moment was 10-year-old Bailey DeWitt, a Georgia soccer player from Macon, whose World Cup experience was made even more memorable thanks to a surprise opportunity through Verizon’s loyalty program.
Source: Verizon / FIFA World Cup with Verizon
For Bailey, a surprise video call turned into a once-in-a-lifetime FIFA World Cup experience. Her story is also part of a larger initiative that Verizon says is designed to reward customer loyalty through exclusive experiences, giveaways and VIP access.
Speaking to BOSSIP’s very own Lauryn Bass ahead of the FIFA World Cup match between Spain and Cabo Verde in Atlanta. The young footballer reflected on the journey that brought her to one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
“I was like three,” Bailey says when asked when she first became interested in soccer.
Source: Lauryn Bass / @itslaurynbass
Bailey credits her father for introducing her to the sport.
“My dad introduced it to me,” she said.
When asked what first excited her about soccer, Bailey pointed to the friendships and freedom she found on the field.
“Probably the race and making new friends,” she shared.
A “Golden Call” changed everything
Bailey’s World Cup journey began with a surprising “Golden Call” from US Women’s National Team player Gisele Thompson.
Source: Verizon / FIFA World Cup with Verizon
The unforgettable moment came after Bailey’s mom entered a Verizon contest through the My Verizon app. Recalling the call, Bailey recalled Thompson asking if the family had ever attended a World Cup game.
“She was like, ‘Have you ever been to a World Cup?’ And we said no,” Bailey recalled. “Then she was like, ‘Do you want it?’ And we said yes.”
What happened next left the family stunned.
“She gave us the tickets and said, ‘You’re going to the FIFA World Cup, Spain against Cabo Verde’.”
Bailey said the possibility still feels surreal.
“It means a lot to me. Much more than just a lot.”
The young football fan already knew the team she wanted to cheer for.
“Spain,” she said with a smile when asked who she was rooting for during the game.
Reimagining customer loyalty
Bailey’s World Cup experience comes as Verizon launches a major overhaul of its customer rewards offerings.
Source: Verizon / FIFA World Cup with Verizon
According to the company, Verizon recently introduced an industry-first loyalty program available to all customers regardless of plan. The initiative includes Verizon Dollars, a rewards program that gives customers 3% back every month just for being Verizon customers, along with Verizon Shine, a new platform designed to provide exclusive perks, daily gifts and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Verizon executives say the effort is part of a broader push to simplify the customer experience while creating more meaningful rewards.
“We are fundamentally reshaping Verizon inside and out to put the customer at the center of everything we do,” Verizon CEO Dan Schulman said in a statement announcing the program. “We listen, design for them and move faster than we ever have before.”
Among the experiences available through Verizon Shine are VIP sporting events, concerts, celebrity meet-and-greets, travel opportunities and exclusive FIFA World Cup experiences. The company announced upcoming opportunities including a VIP FIFA World Cup 2026 Final experience with David Beckham, access to music festivals, international travel experiences and access to major entertainment events.
In addition to launching Verizon Dollars and Verizon Shine, the company also announced the elimination of activation and upgrade fees for customers enrolled in the loyalty program. Verizon says the changes are designed to create a simpler and more rewarding customer experience.
Source: Verizon / FIFA World Cup with Verizon
For Bailey and her family, these initiatives translated into something far more memorable than traditional reward points: the opportunity to stand just feet away from world-class athletes competing on soccer’s biggest stage.
“No one gets you closer” with Verizon
Verizon’s slogan, “No One Gets You Closer,” took on new meaning when the DeWitt family arrived at the stadium. Bailey’s mother, Susanna DeWitt, said she was overwhelmed by how close the family was able to get on the act.
Source: Verizon / FIFA World Cup with Verizon
“I’m just really humbled that we’re able to be this close to the field,” DeWitt said.
The family was given club-level seating and special access that placed them just meters away from players competing on one of football’s biggest stages.
“Being able to be on the field for part of the game and seriously, probably feet away from the players at some point,” she said. “Literally, nothing gets you closer except your eyes.”
For a young athlete who has spent years watching the sport from the sidelines, the opportunity provided more than just a memorable day for her family. It also offered inspiration.
A match to remember
When asked what she hoped to gain from the experience, Bailey’s answer centered on personal growth.
“I’m hoping that I’ll gain some more confidence,” she said. “Seeing the players so I’m not so scared.”
While the World Cup experience may be a dream come true, Bailey hopes other young athletes remember that their goals are also achievable.
Her advice was simple: “Never give up.”
Bailey’s experience served as a real-time example of Verizon’s “No One Gets You Closer” promise. While many loyalty programs focus on discounts or promotional offers, the company’s Verizon Shine initiative emphasizes access, creating opportunities for customers to attend events, meet talent and experience great cultural moments from a perspective few people will ever see.
Source: Verizon / FIFA World Cup with Verizon
That mindset helped bring Bailey from local soccer fields in Middle Georgia to the sidelines of the FIFA World Cup.
As for the match itself, the action on the field proved as memorable as the atmosphere surrounding it. Despite expectations that Spain would overpower the tournament’s newcomers, Cabo Verde held their own in a hard-fought 0-0 draw that kept fans engaged on the edge of their seats.
Source: Lauryn Bass / @itslaurynbass
Between the historic matchup, passionate supporters, vibrant displays of culture and Verizon’s hospitality, it was a memorable day covering sports media in Atlanta and witnessing firsthand how the FIFA World Cup continues to unite people and cultures from around the globe.
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