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At a time when lots of U.S. cities are trying to make conditions difficult for immigrants, Philadelphia’s Mayor Jim Kenney is not only making policy proposals favorable and accommodating to immigrants but is doing what he can to make the city immigrant-friendly by using a sport that cuts across international borders – soccer/football.
This September, the City of Philadelphia will be the hub of a 32-nation soccer/football tournament specifically featuring international teams in the city’s perimeters. Not only are the organization and hosting of the tournament intended to portray Philadelphia as a welcoming city, it supports the narrative that the mayor sees strength in the city’s diverse population as well.
At a City Hall press conference in April to inaugurate the games, Mayor Kenney, an advocate of inclusion, said that “this is one of the best ways to bring our city together – having good competition and showing teamwork and brotherhood.”
Explaining some the technical dynamics of the game, the Major said, “32 teams will play in a pool set-up World Cup-style at various locations in the city; we will have various international events within the city.” Adding, “Through the late summer and early fall with the elimination brackets and with the quarter finals, we’ll dub it the International Unity Cup Soccer Championship of Philadelphia.”
Portraying Philadelphia as a city that welcomes immigrants of various cultural persuasions, Mayor Kenney was very optimistic of the Unity Cup. He said, even though “We know of no other city that’s doing this … we hope to see the trend expand in to other cities in the future and perhaps we’ll have a city-by- city competition with the winner of (say) a New York and Boston match playing Philadelphia”.
“Therefore, what better way to bring people of various cultural persuasions together than soccer – a sport with a very large international appeal.”
The first 32 teams signed up are the following:
North America: United States, Mexico Caribbean: Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Haiti Africa: Liberia, Cape Verde, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Senegal, Congo, Ivory Coast, Sudan Asia: Vietnam, India, South Korea, Bhutan, Indonesia, Cambodia, Myanmar Europe: Italy, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Turkey, Spain South America: Colombia, Argentina Central America: Guatemala, Honduras
