The FIFA Women's World Cup is in Winnipeg this summer, and two Winnipeg teens will have a special role at the games.

Eighteen-year-old Nazdar and sixteen-year-old Zainab Hilo are sisters and refugees from Iraq.

FIFA surprised them and announced the sisters would be flag bearers at a game.

The girls say soccer is their favourite sport but they had to play it in secret when they still lived in Iraq.

“When we see a man coming around, we would...just not play until the men pass away. And then we would play again,” said Zainab.

Now, Nazdar is the captain of the soccer team she and her sister play on.

The FIFA Women's World Cup begins June 6.