Lancaster, PA is home to refugees & other immigrants from across the globe. A city with a long history of welcome, the BBC recognized Lancaster as “America’s Refugee Capital,” in 2017, resettling “20 times more refugees per capita than the rest of the United States."

Omar Mohammed, former refugee and CWS Lancaster Case Manager, hosted our first refugee and immigrant soccer tournament in 2016, In that first year, more than 150 community members came out to watch just four teams compete. Over the next five years, the tournament grew to include 16 teams in its final year before COVID-19 ended the tournament.

CWS Lancaster and Lancaster Rec are proud to present this new opportunity to bring refugees and immigrants together in a World-Cup style soccer tournament kicking off Lancaster's Welcome Week in September 2023.

Over the course of the 8-week series, Lancaster residents from around the world will join together in community building, leadership development, and trauma support -- all through soccer. As a global sport, soccer allows players to get to know new neighbors, hone their leadership skills, and find joy and peace in a new home.