8 WEEKS SERIES
September 9 – November 4, 2023
Opening Ceremony & Community Festival:
Saturday, September 9 | 9:30am-2pm
A community festival with family-friendly fun, food trucks, community resources, and giveaways.
Roberto Clemente Field
466 Rockland Street Lancaster, PA 17602
GROUP
A
Afghanistan
Ecuador
Kinya
Thai Karen
Guatemala
Haiti
Bosnia
West Africa
GROUP
B
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mexico
United States
Central America
Peru
Inter-South America
Myanmar
Nepal
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.

CELEBRATE DIVERSITY

BUILD COMMUNITY

DEVELOP NEW LEADERS

SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH
When I’m playing soccer, I’m not thinking about all of the things that have happened in my life. I’m only thinking about what I’m doing in the moment, that I’m here, on this field. I feel like myself again.Rwamucyo Karekezi, CWS Lancaster Refugee & Immigrant Community Organizer
PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
We invite you to join us in celebrating our diverse and talented community!
The Unity Cup is made possible by the generosity of sponsors who are committed to celebrating immigrants and refugees, the sport of soccer, and the diverse Lancaster community.
Sign up to host a table at the community festival. Please be sure to prepare materials in multiple languages including but not limited to Spanish, Kiswahili, Dari, Pashto and Arabic.
Volunteers are needed to welcome and direct players and guests, check-in teams and referees, and support field operations for all games. Get ready to have fun, meet new neighbors, and watch some amazing matches!