With the announced launch of Major League Soccer's second annual Soccer For All Month on Wednesday, May 22, clubs around the league are all getting into the act of fostering more inclusive communities in their own way.
Here's a look how your favorite MLS teams are observing the initiative, which signifies that everyone is welcome to MLS, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status and emphasizes the League’s commitment to drive positive social change and end discrimination.
If you don't see your club listed here yet, be sure to check back — all 24 clubs will be supporting Soccer For All through late May and all of June, and this list will be updated as those events take place.
Atlanta United
Julian Gressel may be an MLS Cup champion and the 2017 MLS Rookie of the Year, but he's not just concerned with his on-field success. Before last weekend's game against Real Salt Lake, the German midfielder helped Atlanta United with their unified match.
Atlanta United, in cohort with fellow Mercedes-Benz Stadium occupants and NFL franchise Atlanta Falcons, also hosted a HER Field Day. Maybe there's a future NWSL or U.S. women's national team player in the mix?
A 2-1 win over the Montreal Impact on June 29 will long be remembered for Justin Meram's brace, but the ATL faithful also debuted a Pride-inspired tifo for the ages.
Chicago Fire
The Fire held their Pride night on June 22 when they hosted Real Salt Lake. The anthem was sung by local musician Steve Grand, and the team released a special scarf for the occasion.
FC Cincinnati
After FC Cincinnati asked the region to proclaim who their “Soccer is For” ahead of their May 25 game against the New York Red Bulls, they wore Soccer For All t-shirts pregame against the Colorado Rapids on June 1.
FCC offered fans throughout the Tri-State region an opportunity to visibly demonstrate the inclusivity of the sport and supporting FC Cincinnati, for the chance to win tickets to a game.
Heading into the West End part of Cincinnati, the club also celebrated a spring season of giving back to local youth players.
FC Cincy hosted Equality Night on June 22, when they hosted the LA Galaxy. There were rainbows everywhere, including rainbow smoke in The Bailey.
Colorado Rapids
The Rapids will hosted their Pride Night on June 8 when they defeated Minnesota United 1-0.
After the game, the Rapids hosted their Unified game with Special Olympics players with Minnesota United as part of their #SoccerForAll efforts.
Columbus Crew SC
Columbus held Pride Night on June 1 at MAPFRE Stadium. They wore their pride prematch tops, and will be auctioning those off, to benefit Columbus Crew SC Foundation and Kaleidoscope Youth Center.
As part of the festivities, the Nordecke revealed a Pride-related tifo inspired by "RuPaul's Drag Race" contestant Nina West, a resident of Columbus.
Unified Matches are commonplace throughout the league, and Columbus played theirs following a June 23 home match against Sporting Kansas City.
The same night, the Crew hosted a celebration of women in sports, including special guests Columbus Eagles and USWNT legend Shannon Boxx.
D.C. United
D.C. United participated in the One Journey Festival on June 8, with Chris Odoi-Atsem and team mascot Talon on hand to support refugees in the D.C. community.
Kids, soccer and community. What else do you need?
On June 19, D.C. United held a signing event for their 2019 Unified Team.
When Wayne Rooney scored from beyond midfield against Orlando City in a 1-0 win June 26, the match also served as the club's ninth annual United Night Out. The event celebrated Pride Month – with one heck of a goal to boot.
Houston Dynamo
As part of their #SoccerForAll Night celebrations on June 1, the Houston Dynamo wore Soccer For All tops pregame and used rainbow corner flags at BBVA Compass Stadium.
LAFC
LAFC celebrated Women In Sport on May 17 at Banc of California Stadium with all-female capo stands and events before the match and at halftime, honoring great female athletes in Los Angeles.
WNBA Champion, MVP, and Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike took part in the club's pre-match falconry ritual before the teams took the pitch.
Then US women's national team legend and LAFC co-owner Mia Hamm joined ladies in front of The 3252 as an honorary Capo to help spur on the Black & Gold.
Then in a 4-2 win over the Montreal Impact on May 24, LAFC held Pride Night at the Banc. The highlight was a massive Freddie Mercury tifo before matters got underway, with celebratory smoke also in rainbow colors.
LAFC participated in Los Angeles' Pride festivities on June 9, with ESPN personality LZ Granderson waving the flag for both Pride and the club.
The club also produced a video from Pride Parade.
LA Galaxy
The Galaxy's Pride Night was on June 2, when they hosted New England. Among the special guests in attendance was former Galaxy player and MLS trailblazer Robbie Rogers, the first openly gay player to play in the league.
They used rainbow nets at Dignity Health Sports Park, wore Soccer For All tops pregame and added a rainbow element to the usual streamers thrown by supporters.
A full video of the day's festivities can be found below:
Then later in the month, the club held #SoccerForAll clinics at nearby Leapwood Avenue Elementary School and Annalee Avenue Elementary School.
Minnesota United FC
The Loons hosted their Pride game on June 2 against the Philadelphia Union. Among the highlights, they wore Soccer For All training tops pregame, Ozzie Alonso wore a rainbow captain's armband to celebrate Pride, and the Allianz Field light display was lit up in rainbow colors.
Minnesota United also commemorated the Twin Cities' Pride celebration by lighting up Allianz Field in rainbow colors.
Montreal Impact
As part of their Special Olympics Unified Team, the Impact held a contract-signing ceremony for players. Patrick Leduc, the team's administrative director of soccer operations, was in attendance.
New England Revolution
On June 8, Revolution midfielder Scott Caldwell became the first active pro athlete to march in Boston Pride, alongside members of the club and the Midnight Riders supporters group.
The club also got out into the community, with center back Jalil Anibaba helping at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston.
Not stopping there, the Revolution swung by the Boston Higashi School, too. Goalkeeper Brad Knighton and midfielder Wilfried Zahibo used the power of soccer to help those with autism.
On June 18, the club held a photo shoot with their Unified Team and members of Special Olympics Massachusetts.
On June 24, Nikolai Calabria of the US amputee soccer team visited the team in training, and he'll participate in a halftime scrimmage during the June 29 game against Houston.
On the road for much of June, the Revs returned to Gillette Stadium for a June 29 match, beating the Houston Dynamo 2-1 on a late Teal Bunbury goal. It also served as the club's Pride Match, with a pregame tifo and plenty of inclusivity.
New York City FC
New York City FC celebrated their third annual Pride Night in June 6 when the club hosted FC Cincinnati at Yankee Stadium. The date for this year’s Pride Match fell at the beginning of Pride Month, during which the city will mark the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, fittingly NYC hosted WorldPride, the largest Pride celebration across the globe.
To kick off Pride Month, NYCFC players Brad Stuver, Keaton Parks and Luis Barraza volunteered at the City in the Community (CITC) Saturday Night Lights (SNL) program on May 17. The trio joined local youth in mini-soccer games and took part in a discussion around LGBTQ issues before helping to tie-dye gear for the group to wear to NYCFC’s Pride Match.
