- United Against Hunger unveils Houston Dynamo captain Héctor Herrera and Chivas Guadalajara legend Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez as program ambassadors.
- In its second year, Leagues Cup targets a lifetime total of 4.5 million meals to be distributed in Canada, Mexico, and the United States
- 2 meals will be donated for every Leagues Cup match ticket sold.
NEW YORK AND MEXICO CITY (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, proudly announces 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.
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 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 launch 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 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.
Ticket Information
Tickets for all matches – including LIGA MX hub venues – are available on LeaguesCup.com and will also be available to fans via the hosting MLS club, if applicable. MLS club season ticket holders should contact their club representative for more information or visit LeaguesCup.com and follow @LeaguesCup on social.
About Feeding America
Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment.
We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.
About Second Harvest
*Second Harvest* is Canada’s largest food rescue organization and is a global thought leader on perishable food redistribution. We work with thousands of food businesses from across the supply chain to redirect unsold surplus food to non-profit organizations that feed communities in every province and territory.
By keeping perfectly edible food from ending up in landfill and redirecting it to the charitable sector, our work prevents harmful greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere and improves access to nutrition for the millions of people in Canada experiencing food insecurity.
In addition to our core work of food rescue, Second Harvest produces research on food loss and waste, provides education and training for the charitable food sector and has developed the Second Harvest Food Rescue App to facilitate direct donations from food businesses to local non-profits across Canada. To learn more, visit *www.secondharvest.ca*
