This last weekend, the first annual Icarus Cup was played in Philadelphia. The 7v7 tournament kicked off this year with 41 teams from all over the country, though most were from CASA League, one of the largest city leagues in the country. The League currently hosts 300 teams from all over Philadelphia, includes co-ed soccer, promotion and relegation, and multiple formats of the game. Icarus is the official kit sponsor of the league and has grown in popularity and stature by producing kits that make CASA one of the best-dressed leagues in the region. Icarus currently serves 60 clubs (20% of the league total). Robby Smukler, the founder of Icarus, discussed his passion for his local league.

“I think CASA is a unique league in that it’s very communal. CASA organizes the events, the teams all know each other, there’s promotion/relegation, there’s a lot of fun stuff. The only other league that has a community like this is BDSL. But it’s definitely unique. I’ve had friends come and play with teams in this league and they’re always blown away by the level of organization and how everyone knows each other. CASA is an awesome community. I think it makes Philadelphia a unique soccer community in the country.”

For Smukler, his relationship with CASA is a labor of love. “Working with leagues is tough because we’re not offering things for free. It’s hard to give any real discounts beyond a small percentage off, and our pricing is as low as we can and still make it. So working with leagues is a lot more work for us. I don’t make much money on it, but I love the league, I play in the league, I want to support the league.”

Nolan Bair, President of CASA, sees that support and its benefits as mutual. “Icarus has benefited from the league by access to a large number of teams and players, and promotion across all of our broadcasting wavelengths. The league has benefited by having an affordable jersey kit supplier to recommend a teams, which helps creates an identity Together, both entities have created a union/partnership that helped create the tournament, which was a byproduct of both entities successes and help the league expand beyond the Philadelphia area in terms of awareness and helped promote the jersey company.”

With Icarus obviously being heavily invested in the success of CASA, the Icarus Cup is just the next step. And because of Robby’s approach to design and kit-making, the company did something incredible for the tournament. “The interesting thing about it is, we did 50 unique kits so that when teams signed up, they could choose their kit for the tournament. So as part of your registration, you got a kit that you can wear for the tournament. I think that makes it kind of unique. A lot of other tournaments you don’t really get anything, maybe a t-shirt to wear.” (The gallery above includes 7 of those unique designs)

This year was the launch year and featured 41 teams. Group play on Saturday, then playoffs on Sunday. The whole feel of the tournament was focused on fun for everyone involved, so the event featured food trucks and a DJ. “We just wanted to celebrate getting back to it, after COVID. We were super excited to be able to do it,” said Smukler.

The winners of the divisions were Icarus FC (Icarus’ own club in CASA) in Division 1, Maccabi Philadelphia (CASA team as well) won Division 2, and One Love CC (from Brooklyn’s Rum Beer Football League) won co-ed. The Icarus Cup is planning to return next year.

If you’re interested in the complete range of looks created for the tournament, Icarus is now running preorders for the kits. $10 from every kit sold will got to the club that wore the look during the tournament.

- Dan Vaughn

Editor’s note: Icarus is a sponsor of Protagonist Soccer.