READING, Pa. — Thursday saw a victory for Mexico and plenty of smiles for downtown Reading.
For hours, fans packed the courtyard on Penn Street in the afternoon to watch the opening match of the World Cup.
“As you can see, we got the big screen. We got people, community, food — we have it all,” said state Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz.
The event was organized by the Berks County Latino Chamber of Commerce with the support of some elected officials. It was part of a new “Summer of Soccer” series designed to bring World Cup excitement to communities outside Philadelphia.
“To give people that opportunity to celebrate, to watch games for free right in their own communities,” Cepeda-Freytiz said.
The watch party gave fans a chance to enjoy the World Cup close to home without traveling to Philadelphia.
In a city with a strong Latino community, many said that’s what made the event special.
“This is a phenomenal activity that Reading is doing for all the residents here. World Cup fever. Us Latinos, we live for this sport,” said Reading resident Elvis Narváez.
Narváez has been playing soccer since he was 5 years old. Now he coaches local teams and says soccer has a way of bringing neighbors together.
“Why not have it in your own city where you just got to walk, bring a chair, get with neighbors and enjoy the game?” he said.
Among those in the crowd was another lifelong soccer player, Elizabeth Estrada.
“Just like being in the atmosphere of people that love to play and watch soccer that brings all the community together. It really, really makes me happy,” Estrada said.
Organizers say this is just the start of a Summer of Soccer that will continue with more events across the region.