After several months of evaluation and qualifying stages held across different parts of the world, the winners of the international Next Gen Draft program have arrived in Spain to enjoy an unforgettable experience. This initiative, promoted by LALIGA and EA SPORTS as part of the EA SPORTS FC FUTURES social impact project, offers promising young footballers a unique reward experience combining training, football, and cultural immersion at the heart of the LALIGA ecosystem.
The winners, representing eleven different nationalities, were selected after passing the different phases in their respective countries: Guatemala City (Guatemala), Rustenburg (South Africa), Dubai (UAE), New York (USA) and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). To enter the competition, candidates were selected through the various LALIGA academies around the world, in collaboration with local partners. The selection process took into account not only sporting criteria, but also social factors. Of these, eight participants per region (four boys and four girls) were rewarded with an exclusive 10-day camp in Madrid, combining high-level training sessions, matches against youth teams from LALIGA EA SPORTS clubs, specific training modules and visits to iconic Spanish soccer locations.
For Juan Florit, Head of Sports Projects at LALIGA, the objective of this final stage was clear: “This final phase in Spain aimed to inspire and create new opportunities for these young players both on and off the pitch. Our main goal was to instill in them the values of sport and LALIGA, offering the right educational and sporting stimuli through training and competition, combined with cultural and educational activities related to LALIGA and its clubs.”
The camp took place from 26 May to 4 June at the Los Ángeles de San Rafael sports complex, Atlético de Madrid’s training ground. The schedule included technical and tactical sessions based on the LALIGA Academy methodology, performance analysis workshops, individual development activities, and leisure time to foster team bonding.
The agenda also featured a tour of Madrid and the LALIGA headquarters, visits to LEGENDS, The Home of Football; the themed restaurant LALIGA TWENTYNINE’S; and the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, among others. On the sporting side, participants played matches against youth teams from Atlético de Madrid, CD Leganés, and Rayo Vallecano, strengthening the link between development and competition.
Next Gen Draft is part of EA SPORTS FC FUTURES, a global platform supporting grassroots and community football development in over ten countries. The program focuses on creating safe spaces for sports practice, access to high-quality technical training, and the promotion of values through sport. As part of the initiative, football pitches are being renovated in different parts of Spain and the world, such as the recently inaugurated facilities in Medellín (Colombia) and São Paulo (Brazil), as well as the restored fields in Spain’s Valencian Community. This includes pitches that were severely damaged by the DANA storm, such as Campo Mundial 82 (Catarroja), the Municipal Sports Complex of Sedaví, the Jaume Ortí pitch (Aldaia), and Camp de El Raval (Algemesí).
This initiative reflects the shared commitment of LALIGA and EA SPORTS to promoting grassroots football, fostering equal opportunities, and creating transformative experiences for young players through innovation, education, and sport — all with the aim of shaping the future of football in a more inclusive, global, and forward-thinking way.
About LALIGA
LALIGA is the largest football ecosystem in the world. It is a private sports association composed of the 20 public limited sports companies (SADs) and clubs of LALIGA EA SPORTS and the 22 of LALIGA HYPERMOTION, and is responsible for organising professional football competitions in Spain. LALIGA has over 247 million followers globally across social networks, on 16 platforms and in 20 different languages. With its headquarters in Madrid (Spain) it has the most extensive international network of any sports property and is present in 38 countries through 10 offices. The organisation carries out its social work through its FOUNDATION and was the world’s first professional football league to establish a league for intellectually challenged footballers: LALIGA GENUINE.