How Ukraine's immigrant community turned Philadelphia into a soccer town

NPR | By Brian Mann

Published June 24, 2026 at 3:59 PM EDT

Long before most Americans paid attention to soccer, Philadelphia had a thriving culture of athletes and fans shaped in large part by Ukrainian immigrants. The sport offers a rallying place for Ukrainians at a time when their home country is fighting for survival.

Brian Mann

Brian Mann is NPR's first national addiction correspondent. He also covers breaking news in the U.S. and around the world.

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