Soccer is primed to have its moment in the United States this summer, including in Berks County.
North America is hosting World Cup 2026 from June 11 to July 19, which will bring high-level international soccer matches to cities across the country. Philadelphia is set to be one of those host cities.
But that doesn’t mean the City of Brotherly Love is going to hog all of the soccer excitement.
“It’s not a Philadelphia moment, it’s a Pennsylvania moment,” state Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz said during a media event in Wyomissing on Thursday morning.
State Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz on Thursday announces the official launch of the 222 Corridor Summer Soccer Series, a joint effort among Reading, Lancaster and Allentown that will bring dozens of World Cup-related fun to the region. (DAVID MEKEEL – READING EAGLE)
Cepeda and other local leaders gathered at the legislator’s office to make a special announcement intended to ensure the beautiful game will shine across eastern Pennsylvania this summer.
They officially launched the 222 Corridor Summer Soccer Series, a joint effort among Reading, Lancaster and Allentown that will bring dozens of World Cup-related fun to the region.
The initiative will see community watch parties, cultural celebrations, family-friendly activities, small-business showcases, food vendors, entertainment and tourism-focused events in each of the cities.
Reading has been designated an official “Fan Zone” for the World Cup, which will bring watch parties and block parties to the Santander Arena on July 3, 4, 18 and 19.
Organizers said the soccer series is designed to bring together communities around sports, tourism, business and partnerships.
“Today represents more than just soccer,” said Isamac Torres-Figueroa, board president of the Berks County Latino Chamber of Commerce, which spearheaded the effort.
Isamac Torres-Figueroa, board president of the Berks County Latino Chamber of Commerce, says the 222 Corridor Summer Soccer Series will help Reading, Allentown and Lancaster highlight their culture, small businesses and entertainment. (DAVID MEKEEL – READING EAGLE)
Torres-Figueroa said the events in the series will help the cities highlight their culture, small businesses and entertainment.
“This is a massive win for our community and the entire region,” said Jack Gombach, Reading’s managing director.
Gombach said the series is part of Reading’s choice to dream big and invest in the local community and experience the results that kind of effort creates.
“The 222 Corridor Summer Soccer Series is proof of a large shift happening now,” he said. “Reading is evolving into the next great cultural and entertainment hub in the region.”
Jack Gombach, Reading’s managing director, says the 222 Corridor Summer Soccer Series is a boon for Reading, Allentown and Lancaster. (DAVID MEKEEL – READING EAGLE)
But the series isn’t just a boon for Reading, he added.
“This isn’t about one city shinning alone,” he said. “It’s about three communities joining together to create one powerhouse.”
Kristen Simon, bureau chief of tourism for Lancaster, agreed, saying Route 222 represents much more than just a roadway. It’s a connection binding the culture and commerce of three cities.
“We have a shared vision of regional growth,” she said. “This collaboration is proof that when cities work together we all succeed.”
Cepeda-Freytiz, who secured $250,000 in state funding for the series, said it’s about seizing a major opportunity, with people from all over the world heading to the region because of the World Cup.
“I see the bigger picture,” she said. “I see packed downtowns, I see tourism dollars flowing into our small businesses.”
But, she added, the series is just the start. Leaders in all three cities have a vision that goes well beyond soccer.
“Our goal is bigger than one match or one tournament,” she said. “The goal is to create momentum that lasts beyond World Cup 2026.
“Trust me, this is just the beginning. Let’s show the world what cities like Reading and Lancaster and Allentown can do.”
Updated lists of 222 Corridor Summer Soccer Series events will be provided on the Berks County Latino Chamber of Commerce’s website at berkslatinochamber.com.