The jerseys have been printed and the players have dusted off their cleats. It's play time.
More than 800 amateur soccer players will compete in the city's first International Unity Cup this fall, starting Friday. Thirty-two teams have signed up, composed of immigrants or descendants of each team's country.
The idea for the tournament came from Mayor Kenney, who wanted to imitate the World Cup as a way to bring people of all backgrounds and races together in Philadelphia.
"This tournament is just one way we are working to make sure newcomers feel that they are a part of the social, cultural, and civic fabric of our city," Kenney said at Friday's kickoff announcement.