READING, Pa. — A Team USA win. A baseball game. And a whole lot of red, white and blue.
At FirstEnergy Stadium, fans arrived early to watch the match on the giant videoboard. For Greg McHugh and his family, it was also an early Father’s Day celebration.
“We’re getting an early start on Father’s Day. So my son works all day Sunday at a restaurant. So my daughter loves soccer, I love baseball, and we figured this was a perfect combination,” said McHugh, of Birdsboro.
Greg’s daughter, Eden, enjoyed the festivities.
“It’s been a while since I came to a Reading Phils game. I came with my dad and my brother… We came early to see the World Cup, kind of have a watch party,” she said.
And they weren’t alone.
Watch parties popped up across Berks County.
At Sly Fox in Wyomissing, fans gathered to cheer on Team USA.
“That’s the start that you dream for. Gotta start early, get on them,” said Austin Kolson.
For many fans, having the World Cup here in the United States has made this tournament feel even bigger.
“I think it’s just amazing because it’s not typically a country where we love this kind of football. We love our football. So you see people showing up for watch parties and just embracing the sport. It’s pretty cool,” said Dean Smith of the Fleetwood area.