{"id":4615,"date":"2026-06-25T12:21:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T12:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/06\/25\/long-before-the-world-cup-ukrainian-immigrants-built-a-soccer-powerhouse-in-philly\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T12:21:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T12:21:23","slug":"long-before-the-world-cup-ukrainian-immigrants-built-a-soccer-powerhouse-in-philly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=4615","title":{"rendered":"Long before the World Cup, Ukrainian immigrants built a soccer powerhouse in Philly"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"storytitle\">\n<h1>Long before the World Cup, Ukrainian immigrants built a soccer powerhouse in Philly<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORYTITLE\" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"story-meta\" class=\"story-meta has-byline\">\n<div class=\"story-meta__one\">\n<div class=\"story-meta__one-inner\">\n<div class=\"dateblock\">\n    <time datetime=\"2026-06-25T05:00:00-04:00\"><br \/>\n            <span class=\"date\">June 25, 2026<\/span><span class=\"time\">5:00 AM ET<\/span><br \/>\n    <\/time>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"program-block\">\n                        Heard on             <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/programs\/all-things-considered\/nx-s1-5852500\/all-things-considered-for-june-24-2026\">All Things Considered<\/a>\n         <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"PROGRAM-BLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__ONE-INNER\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__ONE\" --><\/p>\n<div class=\"story-meta__two\">\n<div id=\"storybyline\" class=\"storybyline-wrap linkLocation\">\n<div class=\"bucketwrap byline\">\n<div class=\"byline-container--block\">\n<div class=\"byline byline--block byline--has-link\" aria-label=\"Byline\">\n<div class=\"byline__photo\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/people\/935764762\/brian-mann\" rel=\"author\"><br \/>\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2023\/08\/14\/brianmann_sq-c5787f45cc396890af48cc7ca34127efe40cf95f.jpg?s=100&amp;c=85&amp;f=jpeg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Headshot of Brian Mann\" data-template=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2023\/08\/14\/brianmann_sq-c5787f45cc396890af48cc7ca34127efe40cf95f.jpg?s={width}&amp;c={quality}&amp;f={format}\" data-format=\"jpeg\"><br \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<p class=\"byline__name byline__name--block\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/people\/935764762\/brian-mann\" rel=\"author\"><br \/>\n      Brian Mann<br \/>\n    <\/a>\n  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP BYLINE\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__TWO\" -->\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"STORY-META\" CLASS=\"STORY-META HAS-BYLINE\" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"headlineaudio\" class=\"storylocation linkLocation\">\n<article id=\"resnx-s1-9823496\" class=\"bucketwrap resaudio\" aria-label=\"audio-module\">\n<div class=\"audio-module\">\n<h4 class=\"audio-module-title\">How Ukraine&#8217;s immigrant community turned Philadelphia into a soccer town<\/h4>\n<div class=\"audio-module-controls-wrap\" data-audio='{\"uid\":\"nx-s1-5845366:nx-s1-9823496\",\"available\":true,\"duration\":231,\"title\":\"How Ukraineu0027s immigrant community turned Philadelphia into a soccer town\",\"audioUrl\":\"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/atc\/2026\/06\/20260624_atc_how_ukraine_s_immigrant_community_turned_philadelphia_into_a_soccer_town.mp3?t=progseg&amp;e=nx-s1-5852500&amp;p=2&amp;seg=1&amp;d=231&amp;size=3705253&amp;sc=siteplayer\",\"storyUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/25\/nx-s1-5845366\/world-cup-ukraine-immigrants-philadelphia-soccer-leagues\",\"slug\":\"National\",\"program\":\"All Things Considered\",\"affiliation\":\"\",\"song\":\"\",\"artist\":\"\",\"album\":\"\",\"track\":0,\"type\":\"segment\",\"subtype\":\"other\",\"skipSponsorship\":false,\"hasAdsWizz\":false,\"isStreamAudioType\":false,\"podcastEpisodeRawType\":\"\",\"podcastEpisodeDerivedPlusType\":\"\"}' data-audio-metrics=\"[]\">\n<div class=\"audio-module-controls audio-module-controls--no-js\">\n            <a class=\"audio-module-listen\" href=\"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/atc\/2026\/06\/20260624_atc_how_ukraine_s_immigrant_community_turned_philadelphia_into_a_soccer_town.mp3?t=progseg&amp;e=nx-s1-5852500&amp;p=2&amp;seg=1&amp;d=231&amp;size=3705253&amp;sc=siteplayer&amp;aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer\"><br \/>\n                <b class=\"audio-module-listen-inner\"><br \/>\n                    <b class=\"audio-module-listen-text\"><br \/>\n                        <b class=\"audio-module-cta\"><br \/>\n                            Listen<br \/>\n                        <\/b><br \/>\n                        <b class=\"audio-module-listen-duration\"><br \/>\n                            <span>\u00b7 <\/span><br \/>\n                            <span>3:51<\/span><br \/>\n                        <\/b><br \/>\n                    <\/b><br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n            <\/a><br \/>\n                <time class=\"audio-module-duration\" datetime=\"P3M,51S\"><br \/>\n                  <span class=\"audio-module-duration__initial-value\">3:51<\/span><br \/>\n                <\/time>\n        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"audio-module-tools\">\n            <a class=\"audio-tool audio-tool-transcript\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/transcripts\/nx-s1-5845366\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"audio\",\"action\":\"audio_click_transcript\",\"storyId\":\"nx-s1-5845366\",\"mediaId\":\"nx-s1-9823496\",\"title\":\"Long before the World Cup, Ukrainian immigrants built a soccer powerhouse in Philly\",\"type\":\"ondemand\"}'><br \/>\n                <b class=\"audio-tool-label\">Transcript<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/a><br \/>\n        <button class=\"audio-module-tools-toggle\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"audio\",\"action\":\"audio_open_more_options\",\"storyId\":\"nx-s1-5845366\",\"mediaId\":\"nx-s1-9823496\",\"title\":\"Long before the World Cup, Ukrainian immigrants built a soccer powerhouse in Philly\",\"type\":\"ondemand\"}'><br \/>\n            <b class=\"label\">Toggle more options<\/b><br \/>\n        <\/button><\/p>\n<ul class=\"audio-module-more-tools\">\n<li class=\"audio-tool audio-tool-download\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/atc\/2026\/06\/20260624_atc_how_ukraine_s_immigrant_community_turned_philadelphia_into_a_soccer_town.mp3?t=progseg&amp;e=nx-s1-5852500&amp;p=2&amp;seg=1&amp;d=231&amp;size=3705253&amp;sc=siteplayer&amp;aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer\" 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              <\/label><br \/>\n                        <b class=\"embed-url embed-url-touch\"><br \/>\n                            <code><b class=\"punctuation\">&lt;<\/b>iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/player\/embed\/nx-s1-5845366\/nx-s1-9823496\" width=\"100%\" height=\"290\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"NPR embedded audio player\"&gt;<\/code><br \/>\n                        <\/b>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"audio-tool audio-tool-transcript\">\n                  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/transcripts\/nx-s1-5845366\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"audio\",\"action\":\"audio_click_transcript\",\"storyId\":\"nx-s1-5845366\",\"mediaId\":\"nx-s1-9823496\",\"title\":\"Long before the World Cup, Ukrainian immigrants built a soccer powerhouse in Philly\",\"type\":\"ondemand\"}'><br \/>\n                    <b class=\"audio-tool-label\">Transcript<\/b><br \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"storytext\" class=\"storytext storylocation linkLocation\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-129746\" class=\"bucketwrap image x-large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 3000;--source-height: 2000\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x2000+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff5%2Fdc%2F83d735c04aa9b34a614de05de9b2%2F2026-06-ukrainiansoccer-rachelwisniewski-81.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x2000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff5%2Fdc%2F83d735c04aa9b34a614de05de9b2%2F2026-06-ukrainiansoccer-rachelwisniewski-81.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Standing on a green soccer field and wearing a yellow and light blue soccer uniform, Oleksandr \u201cSasha\u201d Ostapchuk sets himself up to head a ball that's in the air while playing for a team of Ukrainian immigrants against a club with roots in Belarus at Tryzub Ukrainian American Sport Center in North Wales, Pennsylvania, on June 21.\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Oleksandr &#8220;Sasha&#8221; Ostapchuk (left) heads a ball while playing for a tournament squad of the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals soccer team in a match against a club with roots in Belarus at Tryzub Ukrainian American Sport Center in North Wales, Pa., on June 21.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Rachel Wisniewski for NPR<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Rachel Wisniewski for NPR<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>NORTH WALES, Pa. \u2014 Just before game time, Roman Chuprynyak sat in a locker room bent forward, face intense. He ran his hand through stubbly gray hair while giving his team one more pep talk. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You win,&#8221; he shouted in Ukrainian. &#8220;There&#8217;s no other option, damn it!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The men, wearing the yellow and blue national colors of Ukraine, roared a cheer and jogged out to the pitch in this suburb just outside Philadelphia.<\/p>\n<p>This isn&#8217;t World Cup play. That&#8217;s happening in Philadelphia&#8217;s big stadium 45 minutes away. <\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5845366-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImageg-s1-98388\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/series\/g-s1-98388\/soccer-edition\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/series\/g-s1-98388\/soccer-edition\"}'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1080x1080+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/png\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe5%2F29%2Fa2cbc3f44085a5c9d21c37ca8c38%2Fsocial-media-1080x1080.png\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1080x1080+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/png\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe5%2F29%2Fa2cbc3f44085a5c9d21c37ca8c38%2Fsocial-media-1080x1080.png\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1080x1080+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe5%2F29%2Fa2cbc3f44085a5c9d21c37ca8c38%2Fsocial-media-1080x1080.png\" data-format=\"png\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Soccer Edition\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a>         <\/p>\n<div class=\"bucketblock\">\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/series\/g-s1-98388\/soccer-edition\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/series\/g-s1-98388\/soccer-edition\"}'>Soccer Edition<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5845366-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>These are two local, ethnic soccer clubs, players with roots in Belarus scrumming on the home pitch of a Ukrainian club called Tryzub. The club&#8217;s name is a reference to the trident, Ukraine&#8217;s national symbol.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Everybody calls us Ukis,&#8221; Chuprynyak said, grinning with pride. After immigrating to the U.S. as a teenager in 2001, he found his way to Tryzub, where he now works as a coach and an athletic director. &#8220;This club has been proven through time \u2014 75 years it&#8217;s been here.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-129737\" class=\"bucketwrap image x-large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 3000;--source-height: 2000\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x2000+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2Fe4%2F2e52166a4fbfa2de8c1f3da6720a%2F2026-06-ukrainiansoccer-rachelwisniewski-52.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x2000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2Fe4%2F2e52166a4fbfa2de8c1f3da6720a%2F2026-06-ukrainiansoccer-rachelwisniewski-52.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Roman Chuprynyak stands on a soccer field among members of the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals soccer team, giving them a pep talk at Tryzub Ukrainian American Sport Center on June 21, 2026.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Roman Chuprynyak (center) gives a pep talk to his team, made up of Ukrainian immigrants and Ukrainian Americans, before a match against Belarus on June 21.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Rachel Wisniewski for NPR<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Rachel Wisniewski for NPR<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Tryzub, formally known as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tryzub.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ukrainian American Sport Center<\/a>, focuses on amateur league play and is home to the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals. It&#8217;s a top-tier amateur team now, but in the 1950s and 1960s, the squad dominated American pro-leagues, during an era when soccer was still largely eclipsed in the U.S. by football, baseball and basketball.<\/p>\n<p>In its heyday, the team, led by Ukrainian refugees from World War II and Stalin&#8217;s postwar oppression, won a half-dozen national championships in various American professional leagues. It also convinced big European teams like Manchester United to come play exhibition matches.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Nobody cared about [soccer] in the &#8217;60s except the Ukrainians and these other ethnic teams,&#8221; said Yana Pashaeva, who made a <a href=\"https:\/\/greatgamelab.asu.edu\/projects\/great-game-cities\/philadelphia\" target=\"_blank\">documentary about Philadelphia&#8217;s deep Ukrainian soccer culture<\/a>. Her film tracks how members of the club helped lay the foundation of the modern U.S. soccer movement, which began to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/09\/nx-s1-5795791\/2026-history-soccer-fifa-world-cup-fans\" target=\"_blank\">draw wider popularity in the 1990s<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-129738\" class=\"bucketwrap image x-large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 1200;--source-height: 818\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1200x818+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5a%2F20%2F7a9f631b4bc298e0213f3969c6b8%2F1969-08-03-lineup-ukrainian-nationals.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1200x818+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5a%2F20%2F7a9f631b4bc298e0213f3969c6b8%2F1969-08-03-lineup-ukrainian-nationals.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt='This black-and-white photo shows members of the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals soccer team posing for a photo. They are in two rows: one row of members standing in the back and one row of members squatting on the ground in front. Text beneath the photo says: \"PHILADELPHIA UKRAINIAN NATIONALS - JUNE 21, 1969.\" The names of the team members are listed underneath.' loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Through the late 1950s and 1960s, the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals soccer team was one of the top pro-league soccer teams in the United States. Immigrants fleeing World War II and Stalin&#8217;s oppression brought their love of the game to Pennsylvania, helping to establish soccer as an American sport.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Photo provided by Eugene Luciw, Tryzub Ukrainian American Sport Center, used with permission\/Eugene Luciw<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Photo provided by Eugene Luciw, Tryzub Ukrainian American Sport Center, used with permission\/Eugene Luciw<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Much of the documentary focuses on a Ukrainian immigrant named Walter Chyzowych, who settled in Philadelphia in 1949. Chyzowych was a star player who helped establish a network of coaching schools and camps around the United States. He later managed the U.S. national team and coached top national squads.<\/p>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He had to wash the uniforms for the team himself because they just didn&#8217;t have enough resources to hire someone,&#8221; Pashaeva said.<\/p>\n<p>Eugene Luciw, who serves as Tryzub&#8217;s spokesman and unofficial historian, describes Chyzowych as the &#8220;godfather&#8221; of American soccer and says immigrants made the current soccer boom possible.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It became what it is as a result of \u00e9migr\u00e9 clubs such as us \u2014 and specifically us,&#8221; Luciw said.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">A soccer culture that helped sustain Ukrainian identity<\/h3>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-129741\" class=\"bucketwrap image x-large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 3000;--source-height: 2001\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x2001+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3b%2F7c%2Fbeb3441a4b98899483a33549af4a%2F2026-06-ukrainiansoccer-rachelwisniewski-12.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x2001+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3b%2F7c%2Fbeb3441a4b98899483a33549af4a%2F2026-06-ukrainiansoccer-rachelwisniewski-12.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Dancers with the Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, who are wearing traditional clothing, perform on an outdoor stage at the heritage festival at Tryzub Ukrainian American Sport Center on June 21.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble performs at the heritage festival at Tryzub Ukrainian American Sport Center on June 21.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Rachel Wisniewski for NPR<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Rachel Wisniewski for NPR<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>According to Luciw, Tryzub and the Ukis also grew into something more than a soccer and sports club. They became one of the anchors of Ukrainian life and identity in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n<p>On one recent day, while soccer players competed on the pitch, there was also a cultural festival, with kids singing Ukraine&#8217;s national anthem and performing traditional dances in bright embroidered shirts.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Ukraine&#8217;s culture and national identity cannot be destroyed,&#8221; Luciw said from the stage, before calling for a moment of silence to honor those lost in the war after Russia&#8217;s full-scale invasion in 2022.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-129743\" class=\"bucketwrap image small\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 2000;--source-height: 2667\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2000x2667+0+167\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F39%2F17%2F373d882847b28d5ada29d01aa947%2F2026-06-ukrainiansoccer-rachelwisniewski-2.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2000x2667+0+167\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F39%2F17%2F373d882847b28d5ada29d01aa947%2F2026-06-ukrainiansoccer-rachelwisniewski-2.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Father Taras Naumenko poses for a photo on June 21, 2026. He is wearing a cross around his neck and is photographed from about the waist up. He's standing outdoors, and two tree trunks rise behind him.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Father Taras Naumenko poses for a photo at the heritage festival at Tryzub Ukrainian American Sport Center on June 21. Naumenko is one of the chaplains for the center&#8217;s soccer club.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Rachel Wisniewski for NPR<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Rachel Wisniewski for NPR<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Watching from the crowd was Father Taras Naumenko, a Ukrainian Orthodox priest, one of Tryzub&#8217;s team chaplains and a passionate soccer goalie. &#8220;I&#8217;m a soccer player, and I still play in a men&#8217;s league,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>According to Naumenko, the club, which helped sustain Ukrainian culture during the Cold War, gained new importance after Russia&#8217;s invasion. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It unifies us,&#8221; he said, gesturing at families picnicking on the grass. &#8220;There are many people in this community who&#8217;ve lost relatives, brothers, nephews, fathers, sons.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>One of the players on the field was Sasha Ostapchuk, who came to the U.S. a few years ago after the war intensified. He said finding his people and his sport in America made him feel less lonely.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I was looking for a good team, so I found Ukrainian national team,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s so far from Ukraine, so good.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Roman Chuprynyak, who played and coached as his team won this local league game five goals to nil, said he&#8217;s proud his club helped establish soccer in America. He also thinks Tryzub&#8217;s deep history in America sends a message that his Ukrainian culture can&#8217;t be erased.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a Uki nation, a Uki family,&#8221; Chuprynyak said. &#8220;There&#8217;s just no letting that go. That&#8217;s going to stick here forever.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>On that afternoon, Chuprynyak and his Ukrainian side took the win one more time, going four goals to nil in front of their home crowd.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-129736\" class=\"bucketwrap image x-large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 3000;--source-height: 2000\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x2000+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb9%2F07%2Fedfd0a25454995994588d3458bb8%2F2026-06-ukrainiansoccer-rachelwisniewski-97-2.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x2000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb9%2F07%2Fedfd0a25454995994588d3458bb8%2F2026-06-ukrainiansoccer-rachelwisniewski-97-2.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Members of the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals soccer team celebrate their win on June 21. Wearing their yellow and light blue soccer uniforms, the members are standing on a green soccer field, clapping and raising their arms in the air.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                The Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals soccer team celebrates its 4-0 win against Belarus at Tryzub Ukrainian American Sport Center on June 21.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Rachel Wisniewski for NPR<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Rachel Wisniewski for NPR<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tags\">\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/245994525\/fifa-world-cup\">FIFA World Cup<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/128466480\/philadelphia\">Philadelphia<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/1109444415\/ukrainian-culture\">Ukrainian culture<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"TAGS\" --><\/p>\n<div class=\"share-tools share-tools--secondary\" aria-label=\"Share tools\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--facebook\"><button class=\"fbStorynx-s1-5845366\" data-share-facebook='{\"storyId\": \"nx-s1-5845366\" }' data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"share\",\"action\":\"share\",\"clickName\":\"facebook\"}'><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Facebook<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--flipboard\"><button class=\"storynx-s1-5845366\" data-share-flipboard='{\"storyId\": \"nx-s1-5845366\" }' data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"share\",\"action\":\"share\",\"clickName\":\"flipboard\"}'><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Flipboard<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--email\"><button class=\"share-tools__email-link\" data-story-id=\"nx-s1-5845366\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"share\",\"action\":\"share\",\"clickName\":\"email\"}'><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Email<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"SHARE-TOOLS SHARE-TOOLS-SECONDARY\" ARIA-LABEL=\"SHARE TOOLS\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"NEWSLETTER-ACQUISITION-CALLOUT-DATA\" DATA-NEWSLETTER=\"{&amp;QUOT;NEWSLETTERID&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;NEWS&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;TITLE&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;UP FIRST&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;MARKETINGHEADER&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;SIGN UP FOR NPR&#039;S UP FIRST NEWSLETTER&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;FREQUENCY&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;EVERY DAY&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;SHORTDESCRIPTION&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;THE STORIES YOU NEED TO START YOUR DAY, HAND-PICKED FOR YOU EVERY WEEKDAY. PLUS, THE BEST OF NPR EVERY SUNDAY.&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;STICKYDESCRIPTION&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;SIGN UP FOR THE NPR&#039;S UP FIRST NEWSLETTER FOR THE LATEST HEADLINES AND UNIQUE STORIES FROM THE NPR NETWORK.&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;CONTENTIMAGE&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;HTTPS:\/\/NPR.BRIGHTSPOTCDN.COM\/E1\/16\/E7434747460F8691603795B6FF1C\/SCREEN-SHOT-2025-08-20-AT-1-47-26-PM.PNG&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;STATICMARKUPDIR&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;\/BUCKETS\/TOPICS\/HEADER1001.HTML&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;BRANDINGDIR&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;\/BRANDING\/SECTIONS\/NEWS\/&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;BRANDINGLINK&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;HTTPS:\/\/WWW.NPR.ORG\/SECTIONS\/NEWS\/&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;RECAPTCHASITEKEY&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;6LCDN9IZAAAAAOHT985BJJBZJKBJKSXDXK3GEKST&amp;QUOT;}\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT\" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"callout-end-of-story-mount-piano-wrap\" class=\"callout-end-of-story-mount-piano-wrap\">\n<!-- END ID=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO\" -->\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO-WRAP\" CLASS=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO-WRAP\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"END-OF-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"RECOMMENDED-STORIES RECOMMENDED-STORIES-PIANO\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"END-OF-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT\" CLASS=\"RECOMMENDED-STORIES\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Long before the World Cup, Ukrainian immigrants built a soccer powerhouse in Philly June 25, 20265:00 AM ET<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":4617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4615","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4615"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4615\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}