626 Fest: A New Tradition for the 626
June 26th is more than just a date for us. It’s 6/26—the area code that represents the San Gabriel Valley and the community we call home. We wanted to take a day that already represents our community and turn it into something everyone could celebrate together.
On June 26th—6/26—we brought the 626 together for the very first 626 Fest, a one-of-a-kind community soccer festival created to celebrate the people, culture, and communities that make the San Gabriel Valley special.
Our vision is for 626 Fest to become an annual celebration of the San Gabriel Valley, bringing together players, families, local businesses, organizations, and supporters every 6/26. While soccer is at the center of the event, the goal is much bigger: creating a day where our community can connect, celebrate one another, and build relationships through the game we love.
What started as an idea to create something unique for our local soccer community turned into an incredible day filled with competition, music, food, families, local businesses, community organizations, and, of course, plenty of soccer.
More than anything, it was incredible to see everyone come together around the game. Players, parents, coaches, sponsors, businesses, and community leaders all played a role in creating an environment that felt bigger than a tournament.
6/26 belongs to the 626, and we hope 626 Fest can become a tradition that celebrates that community for years to come.
More Than a Soccer Tournament
626 Fest was designed to be more than a traditional tournament.
We wanted to create an experience where players could compete, families could spend the day together, local businesses could get involved, and the entire community could come together around the game we love.
From the youngest players to our adult division, the fields were filled with passionate athletes competing while families and supporters cheered from the sidelines. The energy throughout the day was something special, and seeing so many different parts of the 626 represented in one place was exactly what we hoped to create.
At the heart of the event was our 5v5 small-sided tournament, giving players a fast-paced format that emphasized competition, creativity, and plenty of playing time.
The tournament was split into four separate age divisions, with six teams in each division:
U8–U10
U11–U14
U15–U17
18+ Adult Division
But we wanted to do something different with the way those teams were organized.
Building a Community Through the Tournament
Each team represented one of our event sponsors. This created an academy-like system where teams from different age groups were connected to one another. Younger players could support the older teams during their downtime, while older players could return the support and cheer on the younger players.
The idea was simple: we wanted every player to feel like they were part of something bigger than their individual team.
And it worked.
Throughout the day, we saw players cheering for teams they weren't even playing on. Parents were supporting their own children while also cheering for other players. Teammates from different age groups became friends, and people who had never met before were suddenly celebrating together.
That atmosphere became one of the most special parts of 626 Fest.
The 626 Cultura Award
One of our favorite parts of the event was the 626 Cultura Award.
Rather than giving an award based on what happened on the field, this award was all about what happened around the field.
We wanted to recognize the teams and clubs that did the best job of supporting their affiliated teams throughout the tournament. The teams that cheered the loudest, showed the most energy, and created the best atmosphere had a chance to win the Cultura Award.
And it quickly became competitive.
Players and parents were cheering, celebrating, and supporting teams across different age groups. The energy from the sidelines carried onto the field and created an atmosphere that felt more like a community celebration than a traditional tournament.
We saw players making friends on the spot and families cheering for kids they had never met before.
That is exactly what we hoped the Cultura Award would create.
Because for us, culture isn't just about where you're from. It's about how you show up for the people around you.
The award gave everyone a reason to support one another and helped bring the entire event together.
A Different Kind of Tournament
One of the other things that made 626 Fest unique was our tournament format.
Instead of simply playing a traditional group-stage tournament, we wanted to create a format that kept the action moving and gave every game meaning.
The day began with our placement round, featuring five-minute games where the winning team stayed on the field while the losing team rotated off. Teams accumulated wins throughout the round, and any team that reached four wins automatically qualified for the playoffs.
Once the placement round was complete, the top four teams in each division advanced to the knockout stage, with the #1 seed facing #4 and the #2 seed facing #3.
From there, the winners battled for the title of 626 Fest Champion.
The format created a competitive atmosphere from the first whistle and gave players an opportunity to test themselves against different teams throughout the day.
A Special Guest From the 626 - Ruben Ramos
Another incredible part of the day was having Ruben Ramos join us.
Ruben is a local player from La Puente who has gone on to represent the U.S. National Team and play for the LA Galaxy.
Having someone who grew up right here in our community and reached the highest levels of the sport come back to support an event like 626 Fest was incredibly special.
Ruben spoke with the players, shared his experience, and helped inspire the next generation of athletes from the 626.
He also stayed with us until the very end of the event to present the championship trophy to our winning team.
That was a moment we won't forget.
Seeing a player from La Puente who has gone on to represent the United States and play professionally standing on our field, handing a trophy to young players from our community, was a perfect representation of what 626 Fest was about.
The 626 has talent. The 626 has stories. And the 626 has people worth celebrating.
Huge shoutout to Ruben for coming out, spending the day with us, and supporting the community all the way until the final whistle.
Ruben Ramos - La Puente,CA
Bringing the 626 Together
While the soccer was the centerpiece, the event was about creating a full community experience.
Families gathered around the fields, local businesses and organizations joined us, music filled the park, and players had the opportunity to connect with people from different parts of the San Gabriel Valley.
What made the day especially rewarding was seeing people who may have never crossed paths before come together through soccer.
Players met new teammates. Parents met new families. Sponsors connected with the community. Younger players watched older players compete. And throughout the day, the soccer field became a place where relationships were built naturally.
It was a beautiful reminder of what this sport can do.
A Community Effort
The first 626 Fest would not have been possible without the support of so many people and organizations.
We want to give a special thank you to our sponsors and partners, including:
Everyone else who contributed their time, resources, and support.
We also want to thank Senator Bob Archuleta and Representative Gil Cisneros for joining us and showing their support for youth sports and our community.
Events like this take an entire community to bring together. From our sponsors and volunteers to the coaches, players, families, and local organizations who showed up, every person played a role in making the first 626 Fest possible.
Representing Where We're From
One of the coolest details of 626 Fest was the opportunity for players to make their jerseys truly their own.
Thanks to Tio Charly, who sponsored the jerseys for the event, every participant received a custom 626 Fest jersey. But we wanted to take the customization a step further and make the jerseys represent the communities that make up the 626.
We partnered with Hub Thirty Three, a local print shop based right here in the 626, who brought their printing equipment directly to the event. Players were able to get their jerseys customized on-site, making the experience interactive and personal.
We also had pre-printed patches representing different cities throughout the San Gabriel Valley, including La Puente, El Monte, Baldwin Park, and other local communities. Players could choose a patch representing where they were from and add it to their jersey.
It was a small detail that added a really special touch to the event. Looking around the fields, you could see players literally wearing where they came from.
For us, that was exactly what 626 Fest was supposed to represent. The 626 isn't just one city—it's made up of dozens of communities, neighborhoods, families, and cultures. Bringing all of those communities together on one field was one of the most meaningful parts of the event.
A huge thank you to Tio Charly for sponsoring the jerseys and to Hub Thirty Three for bringing their equipment out and helping us create such a unique experience for the players.
Creating Memories
One of the most rewarding parts of the day was seeing the memories being created throughout the event.
Players received their jerseys, competed with their teams, celebrated goals, and represented the organizations that supported them. Families spent the day together and got to watch their kids compete in an environment built around community.
We even received messages from families after the event sharing how much the experience meant to them.
One parent, Michael Quezada, shared:
“The boys were very excited. We appreciate all the work you put into the event. It was definitely memorable to see you, your family and 626 Futbl grow and to allow us to be a part of it.”
Another parent, Roger Monroy, shared:
“I just wanted to say thank you for today’s event. Ezra really had a lot of fun with the team. Thanks again for organizing everything, we really appreciate it!”
Hearing feedback like this meant a lot to us. It reminded us that the event wasn't simply about who won the championship. It was about giving people an experience they could look back on and remember being part of.
The Beginning of a Tradition
The first 626 Fest is officially in the books.
Seeing players from different age groups, families, sponsors, businesses, and community leaders all come together showed us that there is something special about creating events that belong to the community.
The Cultura Award, the sponsor clubs, the players supporting one another, and the families filling the sidelines all helped create an environment that felt truly unique.
We hope 626 Fest becomes an annual tradition—something that people throughout the San Gabriel Valley look forward to every June 26th.
Our goal is to continue growing the event, bringing in more local businesses and organizations, creating more opportunities for players, and making each year bigger and better while keeping the same community-first spirit that started it all.
Thank you to every player, coach, volunteer, sponsor, family member, and supporter who helped make the first-ever 626 Fest a success.
This is just the beginning.
Happy 6/26. See you next year. ⚽️