Reply to SPAIN trip for thanksgiving 2025

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Parent wants to take their kid to play soccer and people on here want to criticize because they think they want their kid to go pro.  Ha![/quote]

I personally am criticizing the parents that I know that does think their kid is going pro after an "invite" like this. I tried to tell em most of these are good experiences but it's definitely a money grab cuz if you're kid can't even sniff the top two or 3 teams from their club why would they be so "special" to play in a European tournament that my kid has been getting offers from since 9 years old.[/quote]

To many parents, this stuff is confusing.  There are multiple posts on this very topic each year.  These trips are wonderfully fun things to do for families who can afford it.  The way some of these invites are worded makes it confusing.

Most people view this opportunity for what it is and very few, initially uninformed, families might think it could be a special gateway to European soccer.

To the OP. I don’t know who has done that one.  But as the PP said, ask if they will field a team for your kid’s age group.[/quote]

The wording is confusing or deliberate?  They are clearly written in a way to make you think that you are special and they are talking only to you.  It's just creative marketing.  If your kid is actually good enough to be noticed in Europe you won't be getting invites through email.

This past fall at an ECNL showcase, they had some reps from the Real Madrid camps they put on throughout the country.  They were going around picking out kids who were "good" and inviting them to a Real Madrid event.  My son got invited, but I knew what the game was already.  Other parents were freaking out and all excited...blinded.  It turned out to be creative marketing...all you got was an invite to the same Real Madrid camp that anyone can sign up for.  Your kid isn't special but you just got duped.   [/quote]

I don’t think this family has been duped yet but I am not sure if this is real or just a front from one of the clubs to prop up interest.  Most of the commenters on this page do not have kids good enough or committed enough for select invites.

There are only a few clubs/organizations in the Mid-Atlantic who go to Spain during Thanksgiving week so knowing which it is would help address the question.  Between my child and parents my child has played with we can provide feedback on the opportunity if we are familiar.  We have been to Spain during Thanksgiving, Germany training with Bundesliga clubs in April and Portugal in July.   This stuff is not advertised.

Unless OP provides the details, we understand that most MLS Next and ECNL level players are just participating in “soccer vacations” they are “invited” to.

Going overseas in an authentic environment is the most eye-opening experience a young player can get and it changed my child’s perspective permanently.  We were fortunate to listen to the right people who are way more plugged into this circus than we were when we got started.[/quote]

What’s the financial investment for these trips to Spain Portugal and Germany?[/quote]

$1,500 - Spain - lodging, meals and all soccer related activities.  Airfare separate.
$1,750 - Portugal - lodging, meals and all soccer related activities. Airfare separate.
$750 - Germany - “broker fees” for the person arranging the kids to play with the clubs.  It was two kids so it was $1,500.

Honestly, if you are counting the Pennies or have an outcome goal, not worth it.  If you want your eyes open and get a benchmark on where your kid is in the journey, totally worth it.  We also keep building out a network with more opportunities.

Again, depends on where you go and who you go with.  Many of these “tournaments” feature the wealthy from each country, not the poor academy kids who can’t afford to pay.  🇺🇸’s are not the only marks in this game.
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