PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia’s home-grown International Unity Cup soccer tournament is getting a women’s division this year.
The West Philadelphia Soccer Academy was braving the heat of a Wednesday morning practice at Conestoga Community Playground, and the young players were on hand to hear Interim Parks and Recreation Commissioner Orlando Rendon announce the addition of the women’s Unity Cup.
“We know that when Philly youth athletes have opportunities, role models and exposure, they can compete and win at the highest levels — and that opportunity should not be based on your gender,” Rendon said.
“We hope that the women’s Unity Cup will inspire a new generation of girls and women in Philadelphia to get on the pitch to celebrate their heritage, their civic pride and their love of the game.”
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Teams representing the USA and Mexico are already on board, and Parks and Recreation is urging any other team that wants to play to send an email to phlunitycup@phila.gov or attend an Aug. 1 meeting at Guerin Recreation Center (2201 S. 16th Street) in South Philadelphia.
Games are set to begin Sept. 9 — about a month after the men’s games start — but the championship games for both the men’s and women’s divisions are scheduled for Oct. 14.
This is the 8th International Unity Cup, an invention of Mayor Jim Kenney to celebrate the city’s diversity. So fans of women’s soccer might ask what took so long for this addition.
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Deputy Commissioner Bill Salvatore says the introduction of a women’s tournament was originally planned for 2020 but got derailed by the pandemic. The tournament is run by the city but privately funded, and it took some time to find a new patron — the identity of whom he could not divulge.
“But when they come back from Australia, everyone will know,” he said.
Australia, of course, is where the FIFA Women’s World Cup is being played right now. Salvatore said Philadelphia — which will host FIFA World Cup games in 2026 — is making a play for the 2027 Women's World Cup, too.
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Salvatore says he expects the Unity Cup to continue as a city tradition.
“We kind of baked it into the life of Parks and Rec, like the Broad Street Run baked in 30+ years ago. It’s really staff led. It’s something we really care about at Parks and Rec.”