Olympics fever is in the air.
Anxious eyes and open ears filled the audience for the 2024 Philadelphia International Unity Cup Men’s Tournament Draw hosted by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation on June 27th at the Dell Music Center.
The Unity Cup, a city-wide soccer tournament, was founded by former Mayor Jim Kenney in 2016 to bring immigrant communities together and showcase Philadelphia’s diversity.
The tournament includes 16 groups, almost all consisting of three countries.
Group A: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Germany, United States
Group B: Venezuela, Liberia, Nigeria
Group C: England, Italy, Turkey
Group D: Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Senegal
Group E: France, Cambodia, Sierra Leone
Group F: Colombia, Greece, Togo
Group G: Cameroon, Vietnam, Ukraine
Group H: Belarus, Morocco, Israel
Group I: Ethiopia, Ghana, Jamaica
Group J: Ireland, Niger, Palestine
Group K: Mexico, Egypt, Northern Ireland
Group L: Algeria, India, Kosovo
Group M: Guatemala, Honduras, Tanzania
Group N: Brazil, Guinea, Sudan
Group O: Angola, Mali, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago
Group P: Albania, Haiti, Poland
After two games of pool play where each team within a group plays each other, the best 32 teams are selected for elimination rounds. Four rounds of playoffs are then used to cut the pool from 32 to one champion.
Alvin Dahn, a winger for team Liberia, said the tournament provides “a great way of bringing people together.”
“I love soccer,” Dahn said. “There’s nothing I want to do more than be around people I love and represent my country in a tournament.”
He said wearing the Liberian flag on his chest has been a dream.
“Growing up, I always wanted to be a professional soccer player and represent my country,” Dahn said. “Being able to represent Liberia here almost gives me that same sense of pride.”
Dahn, 26, came to the United States in 2014 when he was 16. After being here for a decade, he said the tournament has shown him why Philadelphia is such a unique city.
“The diversity in the city is great. People are really loving and caring in Philadelphia,” Dahn said. “Home is home, but Philadelphia feels like a home for me too.”
Dahn, a 3-year tournament veteran, said playing with team Liberia helps him relax. He said he and his teammates are like family and frequently hang out off the field.
“We grew up playing soccer. This is all we do,” Dahn said. “Especially back home, this is how we come together. It’s like a way of life for us.”
Another thing that’s been a way of life for team Liberia has been winning. The squad has made it to the Unity Cup finals six times in a row dating back to 2017 and won four consecutive championships between 2017 and 2021.
Dahn said representing Liberia in the Unity Cup finals has provided him with experiences he’ll never forget.
“Seeing so many Liberian people in the stands and everybody calling our names was exactly what I dream about,” he said. “I’ve played at some high levels, but I never played in front of that many people before.”
John Murawski, director of special projects for Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and special projects director for FDR Park, said there are usually at least 500 spectators at each game.
Dahn, who played soccer for Saint Joseph’s University from 2017 to 2021, plays forward for Philadelphia Lone Star FC in USL League Two during the season. He said many of his Liberian teammates also play on the Lone Star club, which helps them build chemistry on the pitch.
But the tournament isn’t just for athletes with experience like Dahn’s. Murawski said those who want to participate in the tournament but don’t want to play in the games can volunteer to help with other essential parts like checking in players and retrieving balls.
Dahn would do just about anything for the game he loves. A resident of Bucks County, he said he drives almost 45 minutes to practice in Philadelphia with his team.
The dedication seems to be paying off. Dahn scored twice in last year’s 4-3 finals loss to Ireland.
Despite the loss, he remained positive and urged Philadelphians to remember sports’ power to bring people together.
“Even though we lost to Ireland, we were all so happy after the game. It was a good game,” Dahn said. “It’s not just about winning all the time. It’s about coming together and respecting the person next to you.”
As far as championship aspirations, Dahn said team Liberia is seeking to extend the streak of consecutive finals appearances to seven.
“We’re coming back for what’s ours,” Dahn said. “We lost the trophy last year, but we’re coming back to get it.”
Pool play games will be played during the weekends of August 9, 17, and 24 at James Ramp Playground and Alfred E. Smith Recreation Center. The first three rounds of playoffs will occur during the weekends of September 7, 14, and 28.
The draw for the Women’s Cup, which began last year, will be hosted July 16th at 6:30 pm at FDR Park by the boat house lawn, according to Murawski.
More information about the Unity Cup can be found on Instagram and X @PHLUnityCup.
