Finding Common Ground on the Soccer Pitch

Lancaster has long been known as a place of welcome and has among the highest numbers of refugees and immigrants per capita in the nation. Over time, Lancaster Recreation Commission (Lancaster Rec) noticed some neighbors were struggling to foster rich connections in their new home.

“When you are an immigrant or refugee in a new country, how do you fit in and find community?” said AJ Eckman, Marketing and Development Director at Lancaster Rec. “Everyone wants to find their circle of friends. Everyone wants to belong.”

As an organization, Lancaster Rec aims to provide quality and affordable recreation and learning opportunities to Lancaster residents. Inspired by the Philadelphia International Unity Cup, Lancaster Rec partnered with Church World Service to rally neighbors through one of the most celebrated sports in the world—soccer.

The Lancaster Unity Cup gathers teams of newcomers together for eight weeks of tournaments and concludes with a massive Championship Game. During the Opening Ceremony, each team representing countries from across the globe walk onto the field to a song of their choice, sporting a jersey with the logos of prominent local sponsors like United Way, Comcast, and WGAL among others.

“I recall when we handed the team shirts out, one player got really choked up…They had never had anyone believe in them before. We thoughtfully sourced these sponsors because they believe in these teams and want to support this event—it brought tears to this player’s eyes,” Eckman said. “The importance of this tournament is these individuals that play. They feel valued and supported in their new home.”

In 2022, the Lancaster County Community Foundation rolled out the nationally recognized grants for Community Bridge Builders , a program promoting forward-focused, collaborative projects that honor differences between people, promote greater levels of understanding, and enhance civic dialogue. Thanks to the community’s endowment, in 2023, the Community Foundation was able to award Lancaster Rec with a grant of $25,000 to kick off the first ever Lancaster Unity Cup and create a plan to ensure future sustainability of the event.

During the inaugural event, 16 teams participated in the tournament, each representing a different country across the globe. Over the course of eight weeks, participants play as competitors and teammates, share recipes and snacks from their home countries, and ultimately form bonds of friendship that weave them into community.

“The Lancaster Unity Cup is more than just a soccer tournament – it’s a celebration of Lancaster’s rich diversity. It brings together players from different backgrounds to compete at a high level, meet their neighbors, and share their cultures through the game they love. The event gives athletes the opportunity to represent their countries and showcase their skills, while uniting our community through sport,” Jack Bingeman, Director of Recreation at Lancaster Rec, said.

Recognizing the positive impact on participating players, Lancaster Rec was determined to make this event a signature part of their programming. In 2025, the Lancaster Unity Cup will return for its third year.

“If there’s a game happening on Saturday, players bring all their friends and family, no questions asked. It’s been really inspirational to see how serious the players are, how much they give and make time in their schedules to come to practices and games. They even have team chants,” Eckman said. “As new immigrants and refugees to the United States, this tournament brings them joy. They have found their community.”