PA Classics expanding footprint through partnerships in Reading and Harrisburg

PA Classics is expanding its footprint for the 2025-2026 season, setting up new partnerships with clubs in Reading and Harrisburg.

The Lancaster-based club that is best known for being the youth club of USMNT captain Christian Pulisic is launching PA Classics Reading and PA Classics Harrisburg through partnerships with FC Revolution and Berks United in Reading and Penn FC Youth in Harrisburg.

All three clubs joining forces with PA Classics noted the “expanded pathways for player development” that are opened up through the partnerships, which includes access to the MLS Next and Girls Academy league platforms. Local teams will still be fielded in both the Harrisburg and Reading areas but the teams will all sport the PA Classics badge.

Local youth clubs expanding to new outposts, partnering with other clubs and joining larger organizations has been a regular occurrence of late. In addition to the moves by PA Classics, Sporting Athletic is launching Sporting Athletic NJ in South Jersey and re-launching the Sporting Athletic PA brand for next season.

While clubs like PA Classics are forming partnerships aligned to MLS Next and Girls Academy, others are aligning around clubs within the ECNL ecosystem. Recent announcements include South Jersey club RUSA joining Surf Nation under the Match Fit Surf South Jersey brand and Philadelphia SC joining Surf Nation to become Philadelphia Surf SC.

Philadelphia city clubs Fairmount Soccer, Philadelphia City FC and United Philly Soccer also recently announced a merger to create Inter Philadelphia. Hex FC was established in 2023 as a partnership of several youth clubs with teams competing in ECNL, USYS and other competition platforms. Sporting PA was initially a partnership between Lower Merion SC, FC Europa and Sporting Athletic Club but shifted to just Sporting AC after last season.