History, Culture, and Community at Brooklyn’s Santa Rosalia Tournament | OneFootball

The Santa Rosalia provides a historic, community driven tournament that showcases what a grassroots tournament can and should be.

Now in the final days of summer, there is little time left to enjoy the sunshine before the autumn chill sets in. The warmer weather and longer days of summer bring with it beach days, backyard barbecues, and late nights with friends.

But in the Northeast, there’s an added layer of culture, and that is the multitude of Italian feasts that span down the Jersey Shore, up to Boston’s North End. New York’s most famous is the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, even though you’ll have to shoulder some sidewalk space to enjoy your zeppole among the throngs of tourists and annual visitors alike. But a short ride over the Brooklyn Bridge will bring you to the greatest feast of all, and that’s Santa Rosalia in the storied Italian-American stronghold of Bensonhurst.

What makes Santa Rosalia so authentic is that this area is still one lived in and worked by the people of the not-so-old neighborhood. Furthermore, it has the unique feature of being paired with an infamous soccer tournament. Through the years, it has acted to keep the old ties strong, make sure the culture carries on, and has successfully become something all to its own.

While the tournament may not stem as far back as the feast of its Sicilian saint — some 400 years ago — it has now been played for half a century by those who fled during the Italian diaspora, and specifically those who come from areas around Palermo (like my grandmother, who worked at Villabate Alba that is the cornerstone of the feast). When these groups emigrated, they of course brought their love of the game, but were challenged in ways to play and watch the sport. If you wanted to catch a match, you had to go down to Walker Theater on 65th Street and watch along with everybody else.

The 1970s were rough days in Brooklyn, where people had to toe a fine line between sticking up for themselves, but not pushing their chest out too far. Most of the people around the working class neighborhoods ran cafes, cut slices of meat, baked bread, repaired shoes, installed new tile in your mother’s bathroom — the necessary fabrics of a community.

They worked hard, and found a way to play harder: The tournament started with teams from these local businesses, and in a few short years, gained regional attention. Semi-pro and even ex-professional players from Florida, South America, and of course, Italy, were showing up. As the years went on, many big names played like Carlos Llamosa, Mike Windishmann, and Carlos Jaguande of the United States men’s national team, in addition to Giovanni Savarese, who scored 44 goals for the MetroStars – including the club’s first goal in history.

Famous manager Chris Armas and even Giorgio Chinaglia joined in on the fun, along with notable local coaches and figures like the late Joe Barone (Fiorentina and Brooklyn Italians), and Franco Paonessa. There was even a guest appearance by Steve Nash in between his time as an NBA star.

In its annual tournament last August, eight teams competed in the men’s open division, and there was a legends memorial game, which honored those who had come and played in years’ past. The game featured familiar faces, including Gaetano Messina and Antonio Cinquepalmi from Italia Football TV, Anthony Catanzaro, and Nicola Cirincione who oversees many of North 6 Group’s projects including Campobasso, Ascoli, and Dagenham & Redbridge FC.

Even a priest was in attendance with Don Luigi Portarulo of St. Patrick’s Church, who offered a special blessing before the first match was played.

Gone are the teams representing their respective shops and lines of work, and instead there were those more akin to their multicultural roots, such as Dinamo Tbilisi, Sicilia Calcio, and Double Headed Eagle (a nod to the Albanian flag).

With over 100 in attendance, the final had everything — intensity, pride, and the chance to be kings of Brooklyn. In the end, Palermo BK rose to the occasion, defeating Double Headed Eagle to be crowned the 2025 Santa Rosalia Tournament Champions.

Peter Curto of Supra Soccer Agency acted as one of the main tournament organizers, in between taking care of his clients such as Diego Luna and Giuseppe Rossi. He was thrilled with the turnout given the diligent effort alongside his fellow organizers that want to preserve Bensonhurst’s neighborhood roots and ensure the tournament’s growth in the region. For him, it’s not merely a competition for some exposure, but one that provides a soul to Brooklyn and pays homage to those who have emigrated to and from Italy through the generations.

“Santa Rosalia Soccer Tournament kicked off in style, bringing together passion, tradition, and community for one of Brooklyn’s most beloved soccer events,” Curto said. “What began decades ago as a way for Italian immigrants to stay connected to their roots has evolved into a historic celebration, honoring the beautiful game while uniting generations.

“Today, the tournament continues to honor its rich history while embracing the future, serving as a powerful example of how soccer unites people and builds community, especially as the sport grows in the U.S. and the World Cup approaches; making it a tradition worth celebrating for generations to come.”

This tournament is a vibrant blend of sport, tradition, and neighborhood spirit. It keeps alive a slice of Brooklyn’s rich Italian-American heritage, and continues to evolve by welcoming new generations and talent. It showcases just how soccer hungry this community is, and a blessed spectacle that sets the example of driving communities forward in an ever-changing America.