As the World Cup nears its conclusion, Boston launched its own international soccer tournament, the annual Boston Unity Cup, at Carter Playground on Saturday, continuing the city’s recent surge in soccer enthusiasm. The event, organized by the nonprofit Soccer Unity Project, brings together men’s and women’s teams representing 36 countries, all composed of local residents.

The Unity Cup began with a festive opening ceremony featuring a parade of nations. Players donned jerseys emblazoned with their countries’ flags, while percussionists from Grooversity energized the crowd with rhythmic drumming. Flag bearers led the procession, displaying a vibrant array of national colors. Over the following two weeks, 32 men’s and 10 women’s teams from across Boston will compete in a format inspired by the World Cup, representing immigrant communities from countries including Uzbekistan, Somalia, South Korea, and Mauritania.

Caroline Foscato, president and founder of Soccer Unity Project, stressed the tournament’s role in fostering community cohesion in a diverse city. “In a global city with such a high population of immigrants, there really is no better way to bring people together and create opportunity and cohesion,” she said.

Among the early matches, Venezuela secured a victory over Mexico. Venezuelan player Monica Tuccella noted the tournament’s significance for raising awareness about her home country, which was recently affected by destructive earthquakes. “It’s been a great opportunity to continue to raise our voice,” she said.

On the men’s side, South Korea recorded a win against Morocco, marking the nation’s first participation in the Boston Unity Cup. Player Jae Song said he was drawn to the event after seeing a poster and sought to connect with other Korean players in the city. The teams’ presence on the field formed a multicultural tapestry that symbolized Boston’s wide-ranging immigrant population.

Foscato developed the idea for the tournament after witnessing a similar event in Philadelphia. Partnering with local sponsors and the city, she aimed to create an inclusive space where participation would be free of charge, lowering barriers for newcomers and long-time residents alike.

Alongside the competition, a resource fair lined Columbus Avenue, while younger players took part in a Youth Jamboree offering free clinics. Greg Rowe, president of the Boston Dream Soccer Association, praised the Soccer Unity Project for its accessibility, noting it provides opportunities for players of all skill levels and backgrounds.

This year’s edition is the largest to date, with close to 800 participants, a surge attributed in part to the excitement surrounding the World Cup. “For some people around the world, [soccer] is like oxygen,” Foscato said.

Among the tournament’s longtime supporters is 71-year-old Oslin Mayhew, who coaches the Cape Verdean women’s team. A Trinidadian by birth, Mayhew emphasized the community-building aspect of the event over the competition itself. “The community getting together in a positive way, seeing so many different nations, nationalities, coming together to play this wonderful, beautiful game that’s called soccer,” he said. Mayhew has lived in Boston for more than 50 years and has been involved with the Unity Cup for five years.

As Boston’s diverse neighborhoods cheer on local representatives from around the globe, the Unity Cup continues to highlight the power of soccer as a unifying force in the city.