New York International FC And EV Loves NYC Host Mutual Aid Cup On Randall's Island

New York International FC is hosting a soccer tournament on Randall’s Island on Saturday to support mutual aid work across the city.

The competition, named the EVLovesNYC Mutual Aid Cup, begins at 1pm and features eight teams.

Those teams will play seven-a-side matches in a group stage and knockout format, before the Mutual Aid Cup winner is announced following the final scheduled for 4.25pm.

The tournament format ensures every team will play five games, with eight teams split into two groups of four.

Each team plays three group matches before the top two teams advance to the Mutual Aid Cup semi-finals. The third- and fourth-placed teams compete for the Community Plate.

The teams involved are Zimmerframe FC, Newcomers FC, NYIFC Rejects, Sazon FC, Boots and Pints FC, The Minions, The Salamanders, and NYC Big Dawgs.

The event is being run in association with the city-wide soup kitchen and mutual aid, EV Loves NYC, an organization with which New York International FC has been working for several years to promote awareness of and tackle food insecurity across the five boroughs.

The club is regularly involved in events and activities to raise funds for EV Loves NYC, and the club’s players volunteer in the kitchen or in the distribution of meals.

Earlier this year, NYIFC also helped EV Loves NYC secure a $15,000 grant.

The event is also being run in association with Grassroots Athletics, who will provide the equipment for the day.

A press release ahead of the event read:

“Today is about much more than football.

"It's about bringing together friends, teammates, families and the wider New York soccer community to support an incredible cause.”

“Play hard. Play fair. Support one another. Have fun.”