Philadelphia – The Philadelphia International Unity Cup (Unity Cup), presented by Goya Foods, will kick off the 2017 season on Friday, September 8. This year, the tournament expands to feature a total of 48 teams representing various countries, allowing an additional 16 teams to compete. The Unity Cup is one of Mayor Kenney’s signature initiatives, celebrating the city’s rich cultural diversity and focusing on the international appeal of soccer. All games are free and open to the public.
“The excitement, camaraderie, and showmanship I witnessed during last year’s tournament was inspiring. I can’t wait for this season to get started,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “The Unity Cup reflects the city’s welcoming spirit and I’m proud to have the support of our corporate partners – Goya, PECO, Philadelphia Union, and others – as it shows shared values in promoting diversity and connecting with our immigrant communities.”
One of the new teams this year is the Refugee team, comprised of refugees who arrived in Philadelphia within the last two years, which is supported by the Nationalities Service Center in Philadelphia. The inspiration to create the Unity Cup Refugee team came from the Refugee team that competed during the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Goya Foods, America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company, will again serve as the presenting sponsor of the tournament. With the support of Goya Foods, the Unity Cup has become a significant experience for players and spectators across Philadelphia.
“Goya is proud to be a part of the Unity Cup for the second year and to celebrate the diversity of this great city through soccer,” said Rafael Toro, Director of Public Relations at Goya Foods. “It’s great to see players and fans of all ethnicities come out to support their teams and their communities with such passion and energy.”
The opening weekend of the tournament features more than twenty games including: Ukraine vs. Brazil at Ramp Playground in the Holmesburg neighborhood and the Refugee Team vs. Italy at the South Philly Supersite. The full schedule can be found at unitycup.phila.gov/schedule/.
“We are so excited to kick off the second season of the Unity Cup,” said Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell. “Last year’s tournament successfully brought many different neighborhoods and cultures together at our parks and recreation facilities, and we’re thrilled to bring this free tournament to soccer fans throughout the city.”
On September 23, the Unity Cup will host a block party before the Mexico vs. Ireland game. The block party will be held at Marconi Plaza at 13th and Bigler, and the Mexico v. Ireland game will take place at the South Philly Supersite.
The tournament will continue every Saturday and Sunday until the championship game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 11 which will be broadcast live for the first time on KYW Newsradio. The championship game will feature a festival-style tailgate party outside the stadium and a parade of nations with all forty-eight teams before kickoff.
The Philadelphia International Unity Cup is managed and organized by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation in partnership with the Office of Immigrant Affairs, the Office of the City Representative, the Office of Arts & Culture, and the Office of Community Services.
This year’s Unity Cup sponsors include presenting sponsor Goya, PECO, 6abc, KYW Newsradio, Philadelphia Union, The Philadelphia Sports League, The Consular Corps Association of Philadelphia, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer and the CASA Soccer League.
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Goya Foods: Founded in 1936, Goya Foods, Inc. is America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company, and has established itself as the leader in Latin American food and condiments. Goya manufactures, packages,and distributes over 2,500 high-quality food products from the Caribbean, Spain, Mexico, Central and South America. Goya products have their roots in the culinary traditions of Hispanic communities around the world; their combination of authentic ingredients, robust seasonings and convenient preparation make them ideal for every taste and every table. For more information on Goya Foods, please visit www.goya.com.
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation: (PPR) advances the prosperity of the city and the progress of her people through intentional and sustained stewardship of nearly 10,200 acres of public land and waterways as well as through hundreds of safe, stimulating recreation, environmental and cultural centers. PPR promotes the well-being and growth of the city’s residents by connecting them to the natural world around them, to each other and to fun, physical and social opportunities. PPR is responsible for the upkeep of historically significant Philadelphia events and specialty venues, and works collaboratively with communities and organizations in leading capital projects and the introduction of inventive programming. To learn more about Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, visit us at www.phila.gov/parksandrec, and follow @philaparkandrec on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr.