EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – The City of East Providence is gearing up to bring the community together for an exciting day of culture and community as part of our “Soccer In The City” celebration surrounded around the highly anticipated matchup of Portugal and Colombia.
On Saturday, June 27th, Pierce Memorial Stadium will be the hub to all things’ soccer and community with games and clinics being held throughout the day.
“Soccer is engrained into the East Providence community and plays an important role in bringing people together across generations and cultures,” said Mayor Bob DaSilva. “As a city that takes great pride in its diversity and welcomeness, there is no better way to bring our community together as one than through the world’s game, soccer.”
“This celebration is an opportunity for residents and visitors alike to come together and celebrate in the excitement and showcase the vibrant cultural traditions that make East Providence the best place to live, learn, work and play,” DaSilva added.
Starting at 8AM and running through 1PM the East Providence Youth Soccer Association will be hosting a 4v4 soccer tournament, with each team playing at least 2 guaranteed games of 25 minutes.
Following the completion of the tournament, Santander, the Official Bank of the New England Revolution, will be partnering with the City of East Providence to host a soccer clinic, run by Revolution Academy Coaches and feature a range of drills and games to give our local youth a chance to showcase their soccer skills. The soccer clinic will be taking place from 2 to 3PM.
Upon completion of the clinic, and ahead of the Portugal versus Colombia game, East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva will be going toe to toe with Rhode Island Treasurer and Chair of Ocean State 2026, James Diossa, in a friendly 11 on 11 match that’s slated to take place between 4 and 5:30PM, with the winning team taking home bragging rights and a sense of cultural pride.
“Soccer has a unique way of uniting neighbors and celebrating our rich heritage here in Rhode Island,” said General Treasurer James Diossa. “I am incredibly excited to share the pitch with Mayor DaSilva ahead of this massive Portugal vs. Colombia matchup. This is all in the spirit of community and the 'Summer of Soccer', we’re both representing vibrant, proud cultures.”
To cap off “Soccer in the City”, East Providence is excited to announce that we will be closing off parts of Warren Avenue from 5PM-11PM between Lyon Avenue and Berkeley Street for a Block Party hosted by Café Alma, Loja Portugal, Campino’s, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council and several of the city’s Portuguese clubs.
“The Blackstone Valley has an impressive history with the beautiful game thanks to places such as historic Pierce Stadium,” said James Toomey, Executive Director of the Blackstone Valley Tourism council.
“East Providence’s ‘Soccer In The City’ is a day to honor this legacy and showcase the next generation of players, building on the storied teams and National Soccer Hall of Fame inductees that called the field home,” Toomey added.
The free community event will be open to all from 6PM to 10PM and feature food trucks and vendors, a beer & wine garden, music, and big screens to watch the Portugal versus Colombia game that starts at 7:30PM.
