MLS Launches Inaugural Soccer For All Month
All 23 MLS clubs to celebrate inclusion with local activations
New York, May 25, 2018 – Major League Soccer announced today the launch of Soccer For All month. MLS clubs will conduct activations during the month of June to showcase the collective efforts taking place throughout the League to foster more inclusive communities.
MLS players from all 23 clubs will kick off the month-long promotion by wearing Soccer For All t-shirts during the procession and national anthem of 18 matches from Friday, May 25 to Sunday, June 3. Soccer For All month will be promoted on all League social and digital channels, in-stadium and supported by League broadcast partners. Soccer For All t-shirts will be available in club specific colors and black and white beginning Friday, May 25 at MLSstore.com and at select in-stadium retailers. In addition to raising awareness, proceeds from the t-shirt sales will benefit MLS WORKS and local club charitable partners.
Soccer For All was launched earlier this year through Major League Soccer’s community outreach initiative, MLS WORKS. The platform signifies that everyone is welcome to MLS, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status. To join the conversation, fans are encouraged to use #SoccerForAll on social media.
While the commitment is ongoing, Soccer For All month will feature widespread efforts taking place in MLS communities throughout the U.S. and Canada to highlight the League’s commitment to drive positive social change and end discrimination. Local activation will focus on a number of initiatives including celebrating the diversity of MLS players and fans, Special Olympics Unified Sports Soccer exchange matches and events presented by MLS WORKS and ESPN, diversity workshops for student athletes, coaches and administrators through RISE (Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality), anti-bullying education, leadership training for girls and women, LGBTQ Pride Nights, parades and community events and exclusive match day experiences and soccer clinics for underserved and disadvantaged youth.
Philadelphia Union's initiatives in Soccer For All include:
Friday, May 25: PRIDE Night video
Wednesday, May 30: PRIDE Night vs. Chicago Fire
Local Artist Jimmy Glossblack will do Live Graffiti on the Toyota Plaza with Soccer For All theme. Raised in the greater Philadelphia area, Jimmy is an American graffiti writer who began painting in the early 2000s. Today, with over a decade of work under his belt, he has solidified himself as a nationally recognized practitioner of the art. Glossblack has done artwork at Talen Energy Stadium, his most recent installation was the snake bell mural. Fans can also participate in the live graffiti by participating in their live canvas spray-painting activation.
DJ Carl Michaels will also be providing the pregame tunes. Michaels is a local LGBT community favorite, has done extensive work in the community, and has a great presence at all the local LGBT bars.
To follow all the MLS club community activity during the inaugural Soccer For All month and for more information on other MLS WORKS initiatives, visit MLSsoccer.com/mlsworks.
