FC Barcelona’s presence in the United States has increased in recent years with the development of various academy programs in different parts of the country. They also run a number of soccer camps during the summer months meaning thousands of American youngsters now receive coaching from official Barca coaches, and develop their skills using the methodology of La Masia every year.
Barcelona in the US – The history & goals of their academy programs
The club began to explore the idea of opening camps and academy programs in the USA more than a decade ago, with Barca-branded soccer camps on the other side of the Atlantic dating back as far as 2010.
However, they soon took on more of a developmental path, with the first full-time Barca academy USA launching in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 2014. This one is no longer active, but non-residential academies have since opened up in several cities including Austin and Chicago, while there are also many Barcelona summer camps that run across the country for boys and girls.
In 2017, the club also commenced its most ambitious international initiative to date, with the Barca residency academy USA opening in Casa Grande, Arizona. This full-time program is the closest match to the club’s legendary La Masia academy in Catalunya which has developed some of the game’s greatest talents including Leo Messi, Xavi and Gerard Pique.
Publicly, the goals of these programs are stated along the lines of developing talent and the implementation of the club’s unique football philosophy, with their coaches focusing on possession-based play, technical skills and long-term development over short-term results.
Of course, there is a more commercial aspect too. The club not only profits from the fees they charge for places on their programs, but they also view them as marketing opportunities to some extent as they bid to build their brand in the US, a key global market.
Barca academy USA – Year-round training programs
FC Barcelona tryouts take place each year (typically in August) for places on their year-round programs. Unlike the summer camps, places on these programs are more restricted for players judged to have potential and be a good fit for the academy, so a certain level will be needed.
Austin, TX
According to the official website, the Barca academy in Austin “offers development and competitive soccer programs for boys and girls aged from four to 18, following the guidelines of FC Barcelona, implementing Barca’s world-class soccer methodology, unique coaching style, and core value.”
There are three different programs which young players can enrol on, with training sessions either twice or three times per week. These take place at either the Circuit of the Americas, the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex or Haley-Nelson Park in Burnet.
The Competitive program is the most intensive, featuring three training sessions per week, as well as matches every weekend. It is open to boys and girls aged between nine and 17.
North & South Carolina
There are Barcelona academies in the Carolinas in and around Charlotte. The Central program takes place at the Matthews Sportplex (pictured above). Meanwhile, the West program is located at Field Day Park at Lake Wylie, as well as Martha Rivers in Gastonia.
These both run from August until May, with options for children aged six to 17. The next tryouts are scheduled for August 2025 with a fee of $15.
Chicago, IL
Subtle differences exist between the Barca academies across the country, and the Chicago offering caters for children as young as four on their Development program, while the Competitive program runs all the way up to U18 level.
Training takes place at the Olympic Park in Schaumburg, as well as the Grand Sports Arena, Hoffman Estates, with tryouts scheduled between August 12th and August 31st.
Hoover, AL
There is also a new Barca academy in Hoover, Alabama opening in 2025, although this looks set to be a slightly smaller set-up initially, with their Competitive program only running between U8 and U12 levels.
Their once-weekly Technical program caters for boys and girls up until the age of 18, but it doesn’t feature any competitive matches and may be less suitable for those hoping to take their game to the next level. The 2025/26 program is set to take place at the Hoover Met Turf complex.
While the club describes the above offerings as their “premier US locations”, there are also FC Barcelona campuses and academies in other places too where both summer and year-round programs exist. The Barcelona NY academy is perhaps the best known of these and is located in Long Island. There is also an active Barcelona academy in Miami, Florida.
What is the Barca residency academy?
While the non-residential Barcelona academies detailed above are still relatively intensive and allow for plenty of training and match opportunities, they might still be considered recreational at heart, rather than a natural pathway into professional soccer for most participants.
By comparison, the Barca residency academy is a much more advanced set-up and is specifically geared towards youngsters with the potential to develop into professional soccer players.
It is the first full-time residential academy program in the US to be partnered with a major international club. Student-athletes live on site, attend high school and train at the state-of-the-art Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Arizona, just outside Phoenix.
Open to 13 to 19 year olds, as well as the training using the club’s distinct methodology, Barca academy players will take part in MLS NEXT, the highest level of youth soccer in the United States.
While there are a number of rules and regulations that prevent talented youngsters from moving to Europe and joining La Masia, the most natural pathway to the FC Barcelona first team, the Barca residency academy has already served as a route into the professional game for many players.
The most famous example is that of Julian Araujo (pictured above) who was in his early teens when he left home to join the Barca Residency Academy in 2017. Having made his break into the professional game with MLS side LA Galaxy, he did later join FC Barcelona at senior level and has since moved to Premier League side Bournemouth.
The Barca academy cost for the full residential program in Arizona is a hefty $75,900 according to Cronkite News, although scholarships are offered to talented players who require financial assistance.
