READING, Pa. — For Fernando Aldana, watching the World Cup has always been a family tradition. Today, that tradition brought his family to downtown Reading.
“I’m here with my family… we’re trying to get tickets to a game, but that’s hard. This is nice because you get to be with other people,” Aldana said.
Inside Santander Arena, fans from across the region came together to cheer for their favorite teams while staying cool during one of the hottest days of the year.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity. It feels safe… it’s nice because you get a little bit of the stadium feel instead of just watching at home,” Aldana said.
Outside, visitors could also meet local vendors. One of them was Casa W Distillery, which joined the Fan Zone to introduce its business to soccer fans visiting downtown Reading.
“It’s a privilege to be part of this. FIFA is worldwide, so it’s a great opportunity for us,” said Waldemar Caraballo of Casa W Distillery.
Organizers say months of planning went into creating an event that brings people downtown and introduces visitors to everything Berks County has to offer.
“It’s an opportunity to come into the city, share the moment with other soccer fans. It’s a free event,” said Lisa Haggerty with Experience Berks.
More than 4,000 free tickets were reserved for Friday’s matches, and organizers hope visitors leave wanting to come back.
“We want people to come in and have a great time and think, ‘I wish we had more time in Berks County,’ and come back,” Haggerty said.