Please sign in to post.

train/play soccer in Spain for my kid and looking for family experiences/guidance

I’m a parent exploring the idea of spending some time in Europe because my son has become very dedicated to soccer, and Spain keeps coming up as a place with a strong youth development culture.

I’m trying to understand what this would look like from a family perspective rather than just the sports side. Do my husband or I need to stay in Spain with him? Or can he be there at for a camp/academy alone?

I’m also curious whether anyone here has had a child join a football training program abroad, or knows families who’ve done something similar. I’m trying to get a realistic sense of what the experience is like and what are the trusted places to consider.

Any insights—positive or challenging—would be really appreciated. I’m in the early stages of research and just trying to understand what’s practical before we explore it further.

Posted by
13330 posts

Do my husband or I need to stay in Spain with him?

How old is he? Spanish speaking skills?

How long a soccer camp are you looking for? ( aware of Schengen 90 day rule?)

Does you local soccer league/assn. have any info on foreign programs?

Posted by
2025 posts

The academies that you’re thinking about as being prestigious are funded by the top clubs and only take the very best youth talent. If they think your child has what it takes then they will fund him but that’s highly unlikely to be an option. The bar to entry is very high.

The academy system is absolutely brutal in sucking up talent and spitting it out again. The academy system is crucial to developing new talent but a very small percentage of the players taken on a youth level make it to the first team.

All top teams across Europe have an academy program, and in England at least that runs through the leagues into the 2nd and 3rd tiers, not just the Premier League. So while Spain has some very famous academies at Barca and Madrid that have produced outstanding talent there are similar systems operating everywhere. The caveat is your son needs to be the best of the best to get a place.