Boston Unity Cup Celebrates 5 Years of Play

8/13/2024

Rooted in the power of sport and the  value of community, the Boston Unity Cup is becoming a staple event in the city. The 2024 Boston Unity Cup appropriately coincided with what’s being called the “summer of soccer,” thanks to major international tournaments such as Copa America, the Euros, and the Olympics. 

Co-founded by Caroline Foscato and Greta Teller, the World Cup-style adult soccer tournament has taken off in the past five years, showcasing the city’s growing love of the game. 

Photography by Rick Wilson

"When we kicked off the first Boston Unity Cup in 2018, we envisioned a tournament that embraced and celebrated our city in its fullest through the game of soccer,” Teller remarks.

Foscato adds, “By creating a safe, joyous space to connect across identities, we had the opportunity to build compassion, trust and relationships between people. This is how we change perceptions and build a stronger, healthier, more caring city.” 

The idea for the tournament was sparked by a period of disconnectedness within the city, and inspired by the Philadelphia Unity Cup in Pennsylvania. Now, each summer, teams from across the Boston area have been competing in this flag-bearing tournament in representation of their heritage and culture.

The Boston Unity Cup is a space that celebrates and highlights the diversity of our city.  We are a city with a beautiful kaleidoscope of peoples that create the fabric of who we are – all should be honored and uplifted. Caroline Foscato

The 2024 Boston Unity Cup saw 34 unique nations and regions represented on the pitch. Over 25% of Boston’s population is foreign-born, and as the world’s most popular sport, soccer provides the perfect vehicle to connect the community. 

Photography by Rick Wilson

Back in 2018, the first Boston Unity Cup featured just 16 co-ed teams. Having recently completed its fifth year of play, the 2024 Boston Unity Cup featured an impressive 40 teams, with 32 in the Men’s Division and 8 in the Women’s Division. Not only has the sheer size of the tournament grown, but the impact has grown as well. 

It has exceeded our wildest hopes becoming not just a multi-cultural tournament, but a month-long celebration that brings together our city with play for all ages, assorted community-centered activities, and a deep sense of shared joy among all who attend. Greta Teller

The month-long celebration kicked off on July 13 at Carter Fields with Opening Day, which brought all 40 Boston Unity Cup teams to the pitch for their first games. In the spirit of collaboration, a number of soccer-centric organizations joined the festivities: the New England Revolution hosted a Youth Jamboree in partnership with Special Olympics of MA, and the New England Amputee Soccer Association played in a showcase match.

Photography by Rick Wilson

Going beyond just sport, the Opening Day street festival featured various performances, food trucks, a beer garden hosted by Dorchester Brewing, and a resource fair of over 15 unique local organizations. 

“At its core Boston Unity Cup is a community event — a testament to the power of partnership within the city,” Foscato says. Across the private and public sector, a number of organizations have leaned into the event, amplifying the impact. 

Photography by Rick Wilson

The 2024 tournament wrapped up with championship games on August 4, where Cape Verde was crowned the Men's Division champions and USA brought home the trophy for the Women's Division.

“Boston Unity Cup is by far my proudest professional experience and as we celebrate all we've achieved through the last five tournaments, I cannot wait to see what the next five will bring." Teller says.

With both the Men’s World Cup and a new NWSL team coming to Boston, the next five years are sure to heighten the energy around soccer in the city. But, the excitement around soccer is already here – and judging by the success of the city’s very own international soccer tournament – it’s growing.