Goya Foods Announced as Presenting Sponsor for 2017 Unity Cup
PHILADELPHIA – Mayor Jim Kenney, Parks & Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell, Rafael Toro, Director of Public Relations at Goya Foods, Don Smolenski, President of Philadelphia Eagles, Miriam Enriquez, Director of the Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA), and other City officials hosted a ceremony to draw teams for the opening rounds of the second annual Philadelphia International Unity Cup soccer tournament presented by Goya Foods.
Mayor Kenney drew balls labeled with the names of the 48 participating teams to determine matchups for the initial rounds of the tournament. The ceremony was held in the Touchdown Club at Lincoln Financial Field, as the Unity Cup championship game will be played at the stadium on November 11, 2017.
“Last year’s Unity Cup exceeded our expectations,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “I am pleased to celebrate Philadelphia’s Immigrant Heritage Month by participating in the drawing of teams, showing off our city’s notable diversity.”
This year, an additional 16 teams will participate in the Philadelphia International Unity Cup, presented by Goya Foods, totaling 48 teams, representing various countries. The teams will be divided into four groups:
- 2016 Top 12 Finishers
- Asia and South America
- Africa, Caribbean and Independent
- Europe, Middle East and Central America
“We’re excited to be the presenting sponsor again for this year’s Unity Cup and bring together the diverse communities that represent this great city,” said Rafael Toro, Director of Public Relations of Goya Foods. “It is important to Goya to be a part of events that support our mission to promote the overall wellness of our communities through sports and nutrition.”
Mayor Kenney drew one team from each group’s designated bucket, forming 12 different groups for the rounds of the tournament. The rounds selected are as follows:
Group A: Sierra Leone, Cambodia, Haiti, Israel
Group B: Jamaica, Mongolia, Algeria, Belarus
Group C: Guatemala, Thailand, Refugee Team, Italy
Group D: United States, Myanmar, Togo, Honduras
Group E: Liberia, Venezuela, South Africa, Serbia
Group F: Germany, Bhutan, Ethiopia, Iraq
Group G: Ivory Coast, Vietnam, Nigeria, Lithuania
Group H: DR Congo, Colombia, Senegal, France
Group I: Argentina, India, Sudan, Bosnia Herzegovina
Group J: Puerto Rico, Indonesia, Morocco, Greece
Group K: Mexico, South Korea, Cameroon, Ireland
Group L: Ukraine, Brazil, Ghana, Panama
“Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is thrilled to bring you the Unity Cup once again,” said Commissioner Ott Lovell. “We understand the influence sports and culture have in our city and we are so excited to connect them together for another tournament.”
Last year, Mayor Kenney presented a proclamation declaring June “Immigrant Heritage Month” in Philadelphia. The City of Philadelphia’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and Department of Parks & Recreation have focused their efforts to better connect Philadelphia’s immigrant communities with each other and with city organizations. The Unity Cup promotes inclusion and celebration of Philadelphia’s diverse community through the love of soccer.
Also at the draw, Senior Director, Dr. Curtis J. Gregory, Office of Business Services at the Philadelphia Commerce Department, announced the launch of Passport PHL 2017. The initiative, now in its second iteration, encourages residents to explore the city’s diverse neighborhoods and support immigrant-owned businesses.
In the spirit of Immigrant Heritage month, community members can use their Passport at different restaurants along North 5th Street, in hopes to expand dining choices and cultural experiences. People can collect stamps at each of the participating eateries, and once they have collected three stamps they are eligible for special discounts. Passport PHL runs through June 30, 2017. Community members can pick up a Passport at any of the participating businesses or download their own copy online at ShopNorth5th.com.
The schedule for the rounds of the tournament will be created in the coming weeks. For more information regarding the Philadelphia International Unity Cup please visit: http://unitycup.phila.gov/ or contact the Unity Cup committee via email at PHLUnityCup@phila.gov.