Leagues Cup Announces Continued Fight Against Hunger with United Against Hunger Initiative
Houston, TX (May 28, 2024) – On World Hunger Day, Leagues Cup, the exciting in-season World Cup-style tournament featuring all Major League Soccer (MLS) and LIGA MX clubs, announced the expansion of its impactful program, United Against Hunger. This initiative aims to provide meals and support to those struggling with food insecurity across the communities of all 47 participating clubs in North America.
Leading the charge are League Cup ambassadors Héctor Herrera, captain of the Houston Dynamo, and Mexican legend Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez. Both boast impressive resumes, including three World Cup appearances each. They recently launched events in Houston and Guadalajara to raise awareness for the program.
"As athletes," Herrera shared, "we have a responsibility to give back. I'm proud to support Leagues Cup in their fight to feed our communities." Hernandez echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of supporting the fans who support them.
Herrera kicked off his involvement by surprising families in Houston with food boxes and fresh produce, partnering with Feeding America and the Houston Food Bank at the Baker Ripley House Campus.
The action on the field begins for the Dynamo on Saturday, July 27th, when they host Atlas FC from LIGA MX at Shell Energy Stadium. Their group stage play concludes at home against MLS rivals Real Salt Lake on August 5th. Tickets for these matches are available now!
Leagues Cup's inaugural tournament in 2023 saw the Dynamo reach the Round of 16 after defeating prominent LIGA MX teams. Recognizing the severity of food insecurity, Leagues Cup aims to make a real difference for those lacking access to affordable, nutritious food.
The stark statistics paint a concerning picture:
- USA: Over 44 million Americans, including 13 million children, face food insecurity. (USDA)
- Canada: 6.9 million people, including 1.8 million children, lived in food-insecure households in 2022. (PROOF study, University of Toronto)
- Mexico: 44 million people, or 34.5% of the population, struggle with food poverty. (CONEVAL data, 2022)
Leagues Cup, MLS, and LIGA MX are committed to significantly reducing these numbers. Throughout the tournament, two meals will be donated to those in need for every ticket purchased. Organizers, with the help of fans, donated an impressive 2.2 million meals in 2023 and have set a combined goal of 4.5 million meals for the first two editions of the tournament.
To ensure the program's effectiveness, Leagues Cup has partnered with renowned hunger-relief organizations:
- USA: Feeding America
- Mexico: Bancos de Alimentos de México
- Canada: Second Harvest
For more information on Leagues Cup and the United Against Hunger initiative, please visit HERE
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