In June 2010, South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup, a tournament that galvanizes passionate soccer fans throughout the globe. The 2010 games marked the first soccer World Cup to take place in Africa and were a springboard from which to celebrate South Africa’s multicultural democracy, which captured the world’s attention in the 1990s with its inspiring leadership for a peaceful transition out of apartheid.

As sports played a significant role in unifying a newly democratic South Africa, World Cup Boston 2010 (WCB 2010) was a similar opportunity, bringing together communities under the auspice of one singular and universal sport. WCB 2010 engaged Bostonians in forging relationships across neighborhoods to build a stronger intercultural dialogue through a celebration of soccer, culture and diversity. A public, private and nonprofit collaboration, WCB 2010 was structured to raise awareness about the unifying power of soccer across cultural differences and to boost participation in sports amongst Boston Youth.

World Cup Boston 2010 enjoyed the enthusiastic support of Mayor Thomas Menino and was a joint project of his office, and some of the most dynamic local institutions, including The Boston Children’s Museum, The Boston Public Library and The New England Revolution. South Africa Partners, a Boston-based non-profit facilitating partnership development between the United States and South Africa, coordinated the initiative. It was an integral part of the Mayor’s Community Learning Initiative that integrates the work of the Boston Public Schools, Boston Centers for Youth and Families, and the Boston Public Library to enhance and enrich children’s education and opportunities.