(NEXSTAR) -- Futból, or soccer, has the power to bring people together through shared experiences and emotions, regardless of cultural backgrounds. It's truly a universal language, and one New Orleans organizer is turning that passion into a festival for the community. "I’ve been watching soccer since I was a baby — since I was five or six years old," New Orleans Cup founder Merlin Hernandez said. "My mom would ask why I wasn’t finding something else to do. But when you love something, you love it! Soccer is the number one sport in the world!" Hernandez started the New Orleans Cup in 2019 and it has grown strongly since. The tournament has grown from a humble beginning, to a festival with almost $150,000 in prize money and dozens of teams. "People from Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida fly in. We bring players from Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Honduras. It’s like a soccer festival," Hernandez said. Hernandez, who is affectionately known as "El Presidente," is known for bringing the community together and even dreams of bringing international teams, like the Honduras national team, to New Orleans in the future. He has already brought some famous players from around the world as a chance for locals to meet their heroes. "I go onto the field and start to cry," Hernandez said. "I want to be the best. I want to be number one, because that’s what we are working for — and it’s why we are sacrificing — to be the best."