The Forgotten Transatlantic Soccer Rivalry Between Worcester, Massachusetts, and Worcester, England
In the 1920s, amateur soccer players from Worcester, Massachusetts, and Worcester, England, played a series of matches to foster goodwill between the two cities. These tours, organized during a period of strained U.S.-British relations, were celebrated by thousands of fans and highlighted the unique bond between the two Worcesters. The matches were documented by British sports historian Dilwyn Porter, who discovered archival records of the events. The tours continued until the Great Depression, and today, few people in Worcester, Massachusetts, are aware of this historical rivalry. The story is particularly relevant as Boston prepares to host the FIFA World Cup, underscoring the long-standing connection between the two cities through soccer.