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Kenney launches citywide soccer competition

It was one of Mayor Kenney's first ideas in office: Bring people together with a large-scale soccer competition - a Philadelphia World Cup.

Mayor Kenney’s International Unity Cup begins in September and will include teams representing 32 nations. Daniel Perez (left) represents Mexico and Samba Sow (right) Senegal.
Mayor Kenney’s International Unity Cup begins in September and will include teams representing 32 nations. Daniel Perez (left) represents Mexico and Samba Sow (right) Senegal.Read moreED HILLE / Staff Photographer

It was one of Mayor Kenney's first ideas in office: Bring people together with a large-scale soccer competition - a Philadelphia World Cup.

"Probably Day Two of my job, I was told to organize a soccer tournament with 32 teams," said Miriam Enriquez, director of the city's Office for Immigrant Affairs. "He [Kenney] wanted it to be just like the World Cup."

More details emerged Friday about Kenney's soccer tournament, dubbed the Philadelphia International Unity Cup.

The competition will include 32 teams, each representing a country, and will start in September. A knockout round, similar to the FIFA World Cup, will be held in October at fields across the city, and a winner will be crowned after the final game at Citizens Bank Park on Nov. 15. It will be the first soccer game ever played at the stadium.

Representatives from Mexico, Poland, Ireland, Haiti, Bolivia, and other countries gathered Friday at City Hall for the announcement. Kenney said the idea of the tournament is to bring together the city's immigrant populations.

"We know of no other city in America that's doing this," he said.

David Zhou, who grew up in Beijing and is the only member of his family in the United States, plays soccer in an adult league and sees the tournament as a chance for cultural exchange.

"Soccer is truly an international language that really brings people together," Zhou, who is signed up for team China, said.

Erik Tyek, a Pole who immigrated in 1991, found out about the cup through Casa, an amateur adult soccer league. He's playing for the Polish team.

"I think it's great," he said. "We finally have soccer recognized in this way in Philadelphia."

Kenney held up an Irish flag with the organizer of the Irish team, Ciaran Porter. Porter, who grew up in Donegal and works for the Irish Immigration Center, views the tournament as an opportunity to learn about other immigrant groups.

"It's great for all the different cultures to mix in sport," Porter said.

When Kenney asked her office to participate in the project, Enriquez said she was not sure how popular the idea would be among the city's immigrant groups. But she said the tournament attracted a lot of interest at the three information sessions her office held.

"The excitement and interest we have gotten in our office and Parks and Rec has been overwhelming," Enriquez said.

Kenney said 25 teams have already registered. Additional teams must register by May 16 and provide a $100 deposit. Teams are limited to 25 players, and men and women over 18 are eligible to play.

The mayor said he hopes to make the Philadelphia International Unity cup a yearly tradition.

JTomczuk@phillynews.com @JackTomczuk