Celebrating Diversity Through Sport
With the Philadelphia International Unity Cup
By Bill Salvatore
Photos: Philadelphia Parks and Recreation
I often see the single word “sports” posted on my social media timelines. It usually refers to a great play, an incredible ending, or something more powerful. It is said that sports can heal and unify. In Philadelphia, this occurs every year through the Philadelphia International Unity Cup.
Mayor Jim Kenney introduced the concept in early 2016 as a way to unite the numerous immigrant communities in and around the city. What began as a World Cup-style soccer tournament turned out to be so much more over the last few years.
A Strong Start
In the world of recreation, soccer tournaments are a dime a dozen. Very simply, teams gather, a schedule is set, the tournament is played, and a champion is crowned. The Unity Cup began in a similar fashion. The city’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA)—a small group of three individuals who connect with immigrant communities daily—led the effort. The first surprise was that 91 people showed up for the initial information session. It was clear we were onto something big! Two additional meetings followed to round out the engagement process. We then developed a commitment letter for teams to reserve a spot in the tournament. On the day the letters were due, no fewer than 12 individuals were waiting for OIA to open its doors. Within three days, 32 teams were scheduled for the tournament.
Since the tournament is modeled after the World Cup, the next piece of the puzzle was the group draw, where the teams learn whom they will play in their group of four teams. The initial draw was held at Citizens Bank Park—home of the Philadelphia Phillies and the location of the inaugural championship match. The turnout for the draw was amazing—every team appeared in traditional colors and garb, brought community members and children, and cheered when a Ping-Pong ball was drawn and placed into a group.
On a beautiful Friday night in early September, the inaugural Unity Cup kicked off with two high-profile matches: Mexico vs. Vietnam (two of the largest immigrant communities in Philadelphia) and Ireland vs. USA. The night started with each team’s anthem, an authentic walk-out, and other fanfare. Group stage matches were played over three weekends, followed by a knockout round before heading to Citizens Bank Park for the championship game between Liberia and Ivory Coast.
A Parade Of Connectivity
Championship Saturday was much more than the championship match. Each team was asked to present a player to participate in an all-star youth match sponsored by the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer. With the assistance of OIA, 19 new citizens were welcomed as part of a naturalization ceremony at mid-field. Two other city agencies—the Office of the City Representative (OCR) and the Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy (CreativePHL)—were key partners as well. OCR organized a “Gateway of Nations” tailgate party and festival, complete with cultural food trucks and musical performances, a pop-up playground, and sponsor and community activations. During the bulk of the tournament, CreativePHL traveled to every corner of the city and invited community members to create unique banners featuring artwork specific to their country and community. OCR assisted CreativePHL in organizing a “Parade of Nations,” where every team and community paraded through the stadium prior to the championship game. The final two teams to enter the stadium—Liberia and Ivory Coast—took the field for warm-ups before community members performed each nation’s national anthem. After the game, Mayor Kenney joined both teams at mid-field to distribute medals and present Ivory Coast with the Unity Cup.
Throughout the tournament, the city looked for ways to keep teams engaged and active. On the website, unitycup.phila.gov, not only were standings and schedule details shared but also team profiles (locations of practices and the best food from the respective country, etc.), and blog posts that previewed and recapped matches. Social media accounts (PHLUnityCup) on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram were used to promote the tournament, give real-time game updates, and highlight communities. There was even a wrap-up party at the Penn Museum to celebrate the success of the participating teams.
A Victorious Effort
In 2017, organizers decided not to cap the number of teams in the tournament. Thus, 48 unique countries were represented. The logistics remained the same—a group draw, group stage matches, a knockout round, and the championship—this time at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles. What was exciting about 2017 was a partnership with Temple University to host focus groups players and community members, and to get qualitative data on the purpose and effectiveness of the tournament. The objectives of the tournament follow:
Unites the city. Tournament games are played across the city, bringing together spectators and athletes from a range of neighborhoods and backgrounds, and fostering a sense of community.
Fosters civic pride. The Unity Cup engages immigrant communities with local government to make their communities feel safe, valued, and respected.
Celebrates diversity. Acknowledging Philadelphia’s rich diversity of international cultures, the city-wide soccer tournament showcases the camaraderie, sportsmanship, cooperation, and pride emblematic of Philadelphia.
Speaks the common language of soccer. Multi-cultural sports clubs from various communities that share a love of soccer are brought together. Mutual interest in the activity can spark friendship, collaboration, and understanding.
Offers a safe space. Immigrant communities can express their culture and celebrate diversity in a safe space, leading to feelings of being more comfortable and accepted in Philadelphia.
In reading the report, it’s clear that the outcome went above and beyond what Mayor Kenney originally envisioned.
A Plan To Grow
In 2018 and 2019, 52 countries were represented in the Unity Cup. To continue to grow the tournament, a third-place game was added to Championship Saturday, the youth match was expanded to a small-sided tournament, and an all-star game was added for those teams that were not playing in the championship or third-place games. The Unity Cup also found a championship home at Subaru Park, home of the Philadelphia Union.
The COVID-19 pandemic canceled all plans for the 2020 tournament, but the Unity Cup community stayed connected over a group chat, and even created a virtual passing video shared on social media. Plans for 2021 are well underway, with the possibility of 60 teams and the addition of a women’s tournament.
The Unity Cup represents what is great about Philadelphia—a welcoming city, the “city of brotherly love and sisterly affection,”—and that is the spirit of togetherness. Or, as one Unity Cup participant stated, “Soccer breaks every barrier. It doesn't matter what part of the city, country, or the world you come from, it’s one language, which is soccer.” Sports.
Bill Salvatore, CPRP, is the Unity Cup Director and Director of Strategic Development for Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. Reach him at (215) 683-3685, or Bill.Salvatore@phila.gov.