On its Eighth Year, Philly’s Unity Cup Continues To Shine and Prepares for 2026
The Philadelphia International Unity Cup started as an idea from former Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenny to bring migrant communities closer to city government. This is the eighth year of the Unity Cup, a world cup-style tournament held over several months. Beginning in 2016, it became an annual tradition.
A tradition that soccer fans from across the region look forward to each year, though not because of the sport itself but because of the melting pot of cultures that come together to engage in the worthwhile tournament.
Philadelphia will host six matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will take place at Lincoln Financial Field. The World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with Philly’s matches held between June 14th and July 4, 2026, the 250th birthday of the United States.
“The common love of soccer in these, at times, underserved communities is seen as an avenue to help bridge the disconnect from these communities to local government,” John Murawski, FDR Park Special Projects Manager for the office of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, said.
Murawski added that PPR does have places to make the 2026 Unity Cup a bigger spectacle with the World Cup’s stage and everyone’s eyes on the city, but that Philadelphians and soccer fans alike would have to wait to see what’s in store.
This year, the Unity Cup men’s tournament will feature 50 teams. Countries such as Mexico, Ireland, Venezuela, Ecuador, France, and many others will participate. Each team will end with a championship game in Subaru Park, the home of the Philadelphia Union.
Last year, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation launched its Philadelphia International Unity Cup Women’s Tournament. Ten teams representing Europe, Africa, North America, Central America, and South America will participate in this year’s Women’s Tournament. They include Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, and the United States of America.
The Women’s Tournament began in mid-August. The championship game will take place at noon on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
Murawski added that in the early stages of the Cup, the city relied on its youth soccer programs to spread the word about the tournament. At first, the fledgling soccer teams grew from eighteen to twenty-four, then thirty-four to forty-eight, and finally, fifty-four.
“The cup remains a vessel for bringing all communities closer to local government and all of our resources. I often field phone calls and emails from players and coaches asking how they can get resources for their local rec center or pools, where the local voting sites will be in their community, and a host of other questions,” Murawski shared.
As excitement for the 2026 FIFA World Cup grows, a moment that will already unite Philadelphians on a global stage, the Unity Cup extends that spirit by bringing the city's diverse communities together locally, using soccer as a powerful tool for connection and cultural celebration.