HOUSTON (May 28, 2024) – On World Hunger Day, Leagues Cup, the first in-season World Cup-style club tournament uniting all Major League Soccer (MLS) and LIGA MX clubs, announced the groundbreaking program, United Against Hunger, will continue to expand in 2024, providing meals and support to those in need in all 47 clubs’ communities throughout North America.
To further develop awareness on this important initiative, Houston Dynamo captain Héctor Herrera and Chivas Guadalajara legend Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, both three-time World Cup stars, are serving as ambassadors for United Against Hunger and recently launched events in Houston, Texas and Guadalajara, Mexico.
Herrera expressed his commitment, saying, "As athletes, we have the privilege and responsibility to use our platform for good, and I'm honored to support Leagues Cup in their mission to feed our communities." Hernandez echoed his sentiments, adding, "Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those in need, of the people that support us and I'm proud to be part of this initiative with Leagues Cup."
To kickoff Herrera’s involvement in the program, the Mexican international recently surprised Houston families in need with boxes of non-perishable food items and bags of fresh fruits and produce. The event took place at the Baker Rippley House Campus in partnership with Feeding America and the Houston Food Bank.
The Dynamo begin Leagues Cup group stage play on Saturday, July 27, hosting Atlas from LIGA MX at Shell Energy Stadium, before closing group play at home versus MLS foe Real Salt Lake on August 5. Tickets for those matches can be purchased HERE.
In last year’s inaugural Leagues Cup, the Dynamo made a run to the Round of 16 after defeating prominent LIGA MX sides C.F. Pachuca and Club Santos Laguna at Shell Energy Stadium.
Recognizing the urgent issue of food insecurity in our societies, Leagues Cup intends to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families lacking access to affordable and nutritious food. Leveraging the power of soccer, Leagues Cup strives to create positive change and uplift the communities where we live and play.
According to the USDA, more than 44 million Americans, including 13 million children, face food insecurity, struggling to obtain sufficient nourishment. Similarly, in Canada, 6.9 million people in the ten provinces, including almost 1.8 million children, lived in a food-insecure household in 2022, according to PROOF, a study by University of Toronto researchers. In Mexico, 44 million people or 34.5% of the population, live in food poverty, according to data collected by Mexico's National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (CONEVAL) in 2022.
Leagues Cup, MLS, and LIGA MX reiterate their commitment to making a significant impact in reducing food insecurity. Throughout the tournament, for every match ticket sold, two (2) meals will be donated to those in need in North America. Organizers, with the support of fans throughout the month-long tournament, donated 2.2 million meals in 2023. Leagues Cup has set the combined goal of 4.5 million donated meals for its first two editions.
To ensure the effectiveness of its efforts, Leagues Cup has partnered with renowned community organizations dedicated to fighting hunger. In the United States, Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, will work alongside tournament organizers. In Mexico, Bancos de Alimentos de México, a network of food banks, will contribute their expertise. In Canada, Leagues Cup’s partnership with Second Harvest will support efforts to alleviate food insecurity in the country.
For more information on Leagues Cup program, United Against Hunger, please click here.
