Lena McCrae and her father sat quietly and calmly inside the Santander Arena early Friday afternoon, enjoying a bit of air-conditioned serenity.
Wearing Colombia soccer shirts, they were among of smattering of people enjoying a brief respite from the triple-digit heat outdoors.
They were relaxed, they were tranquil.
That wouldn’t last too long.
Later Friday night, their native Colombia would play a World Cup knockout round game against Ghana. That meant their chill vibes would be shed and replaced with unbridled excitement.
“We love soccer,” McCrae said. “And we love Colombia.”
They got a chance to celebrate both Friday thanks to a special event in downtown Reading.
The city has been named an official World Cup 2026 Fan Zone. That means hosting four public watch parties at the arena, with corresponding block parties rocking outside on Penn Street.
Fans play a pick-up soccer game before the FIFA Fan Zone World Cup watch party at the Santander Arena on Friday, July 3, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
The first watch party and block party were held Friday, and the second was scheduled for Saturday. The arena was all decked out for the event, with turf and soccer goals set up on the playing surface and six enormous video screens hanging from the ceiling.
McCrae said she was thrilled to be able to bring her father to check out the inaugural session.
Her dad, Carlos Ramirez, was visiting from his home in Bogota, Colombia. The watch party gave the Wyomissing woman a chance to show off what greater Reading has to offer, while sharing their passion for soccer.
“I love the energy, it’s constant movement,” she said of why she enjoys the sport. “It’s like the best sport.”
She and her family have been watching most of the World Cup games, she said, and were eager to share in the excitement the watch party promised to offer.
“We love the energy of a crowd,” she said.
Ramirez summed up his thoughts simply.
“Sensational,” his daughter translated for him.
Joshua Nasados was also looking for a shared experience Friday.
“Watching with a crowd, there’s a lot of energy,” he said. “It beats watching at my house.”
Joshua Nosados of Fleetwood shows off his Philadelphia Soccer 2026 T-shirt during the FIFA Fan Zone World Cup watch party at the Santander Arena on Friday, July 3, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Nasados of Fleetwood said he’s been a soccer fan for over 15 years. In the lead-up to the 2020 World Cup, his father took him to see the U.S. men’s team play a warm-up match against Turkey in Philadelphia.
“Since then I’ve just been following the sport,” he said.
That passion even led him back down to Philly last week, where he caught a match between Ghana and Croatia.
Outside, across the street from the arena, Barb Kernen was doing a bit of shopping before heading in to watch the games. She browsed a stand selling soccer T-shirts and soccer balls, looking for the perfect souvenir.
“We’re soccer fans,” she said of herself and her family members who had come out to the watch party. “And we’re just excited to be able to hear the cheering crowd, to experience the atmosphere of the crowd.”
Barb Kernen of Collegeville checks out the size of a USA T-shirt outside the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel before the FIFA Fan Zone World Cup watch party at the Santander Arena on Friday, July 3, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
That was the whole idea behind the event.
At an official ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier Friday inside the arena, Reading Mayor Eddie Moran said the city was thrilled to be able to host an event that promised to bring joys to thousands.
“We want to make sure we can give the experiences we know we can give,” he said. “It definitely shows Reading is ready, willing and able to create major events.”
Reading Mayor Eddie Moran cheers after cutting the ribbon to the FIFA Fan Zone Friday at the Santander Arena, a venue where soccer fans can watch World Cup matches. With Moran are from left Bill Gehrman of Philadelphia Soccer 2026; Meg Kane of Philadelphia Soccer 2026; Moran; Berks County Commissioner Dante Santoni; and Garrett Ettinger of Philadelphia Soccer 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
And the watch parties definitely are major. City officials said that 3,000 people had claimed tickets for Friday’s event, and a total of 8,000 tickets had been claimed for all four.
Saturday’s block party will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with games being shown inside the arena at 1 and 5 p.m.
The final two watch parties will be on July 18 and 19.
To claim free tickets for the watch parties visit experienceberks.com.
Young soccer fans snack outside the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel before the FIFA Fan Zone World Cup watch party at the Santander Arena on Friday, July 3, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)