FC Barcelona High Performance Football Academy in the USA 2025
“The only official Barcelona International Academy outside of Barcelona”
The international football academy of FC Barcelona is located in Arizona, in the United States. Apart from La Masia, it is the only other official academy of this great club. The academy’s team competes in the US Soccer Development Academy tournament, the most important competition of America’s lower leagues, where the country’s 70 best clubs compete.
Index
Programme aims
- Prepare footballers (both outfield players and goalkeepers) to reach the standard that will enable them to obtain a contract in professional football and/or even be selected to compete to represent their country.
- Prepare footballers who want to prepare for a university scholarship to study and compete in the USA.
- Help students learn values and support them in achieving sporting and academic excellence.
Short Term Programme
These are the modalities of short courses available:
- Proficiency programmes from 1 to 8 weeks during the summer
- Programmes in winter
- Trials for selection to the annual programme, lasting 48 hours
Long term courses
Option A:
Full student: Includes sports programme, full board accommodation and educational programme.
Education programme:
The FC Barcelona football academy in the USA has an educational center within its facilities. This educational center works with ASU (Arizona State University) to offer an advanced education in the follow grades:
- Grade 9
- Grade 10
- Grade 11
- Grade 12
At ASU, the students are well-prepared for success. They receive personalized attention that allows them to excel in their education, compete at an international level, and give back to their communities.
The Academy
This proficiency football academy has been running since 2010. All participants who graduate from this academy have either been successful in signing a contract as a professional footballer or have obtained a university sports scholarship at universities such as Stanford, UCLA and Virginia. The national squad of the United States Sub-20 currently have in its ranks 5 of the academy’s ex-alumni. No other academy in the United States has more than one player in its selection.
In total, 68 sports men and women who graduated from Grande have competed internationally representing their country. The teams from this football academy have had great success in the national championship of the US Soccer Development Academy (USSDA), winning the tournament once, coming second twice and reaching the national finals in four of its first five years in existence.
Ex Alumni
Below are some of the players who trained at this academy:
- Brooks Lennon – Liverpool FC 2015
- Josh Doughty – Manchester United
- Carlos Salcedo – ACF Fiorentina
Brooks Lennon
Josh Doughty
Carlos Salcedo
The Staff
Xavi Bravo
Xavi is a hugely experienced UEFA Pro Licence-qualified coach. He is responsible for the under-11 and under-12 teams at FC Barcelona’s La Masia Academy. He is also Technical Director at the Hong Kong Football Academy.
Sean McCafferty
Sean McCafferty is another coach working alongside Xavi Bravo. He is responsible for leading training sessions in the school. Sean is qualified with the A USSF (US Soccer Federation) Licence, the latter organisation overseeing coaching education for trainers who work with the best youth teams in the United States. He also manages the under 17s team at FC Barcelona Academy in USA and is coach to the under-16s and under-18s at Continental FC Delco.
Selection process for the annual programme
Only a small number of players each year are accepted on to the intensive year-long coaching programme at this proficiency academy. To have any chance of success applicants must either participate in one of the camps or attend a trial day to enable the trainers to assess whether they have the skills and aptitude to be awarded a place.
Option 1- In person: Selection trials
The academy runs short programmes, from 2 to 8 weeks, which are open to all young people who want to demonstrate their skills and get to know at first-hand how the academy works.
Taking part in a full course in a football academy involves a substantial investment in the future. If you want to be sure that your child has potential as a footballer before taking a decision that will involve considerable expense, we highly recommend that they attend one of the trial days, where the professional staff at the academy can analyse their ability and tell you about the best options, taking into account their skills and potential.
¿Need more information?
Download our PDF with more information about the academy:
Sports programme, education options, prices, dates etc.
Prices
Signing up for an annual programme at a soccer academy is an excellent investment in the future.
■ Before deciding to make a significant investment and sign their child up in a football academy for a whole year, many parents prefer their children to attend a short-term programme to see if it’s the right academy for them. Besides that, the academy’s coaches will take the opportunity to assess your child’s abilities and recommend the best options for them.
■ Alternatively, as parents, you may feel confident enough in this academy and would like to sign your child up for a long-term programme.
Whatever your case may be, we invite you to fill in the form you’ll find below and we’ll get in touch with you to discuss the different enrolment options for your child.