Who's Oscar?

It's a money grab if you think you are going to be evaluated and recruited by some large euro club. It's an experience if you go and embrace the soccer culture abroad along with all the pageantry.

US - parents sit in cars until game time and bring out their folding chairs and attempt to behave.

Everywhere else in the world - They are in the stands drinking, eating, singing, chanting, and waving scarfs/flags. It's an event, the soccer is almost secondary to the actual experience.

You will see academies from all over and realize our MLS Next teams couldn't handle the majority of local clubs in barcelona, forget the likes of the professional ones.

For anyone who has been — is it lonely if just one parent goes with their kid? Do the parents of kids on the team interact and hang out with each other? Not sure our whole family can make the trip or if we would want to spend the money for all of us.

Anonymous wrote:Oscar scamming hard and making bank. The American dream in full essence.

lol

Anonymous wrote:Oscar scamming hard and making bank. The American dream in full essence.

You sound bitter.

Oscar is not scamming. There are many clubs that do a trip like this. One is Villarreal and that trip is a scam. This is a group of handpicked kids that they see throughout the year. Either kids that have done camp or training with them that he invites. There are also tryouts. It's a memorable experience while doing what the kids love. Not only do you get a great team to go with but the coaching is leaps and bounds better that any coach we have personally experienced in the NOVA area. Parents make this into a family trip. Your kid isn't going to be scouted it is just for fun, which is the whole point of this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Currently going back and forth on this as well. DC has been invited the last two years without trying out. It's one of those things where I don't know if we would have brought DC to a tryout, but because the invitation is there maybe we just do it. But so much money to spend and not get to sightsee or pick our own restaurants like a normal trip. Could definitely pick cheaper lodging on our own too.

yeah, we are talking through that as well. Part of me says, you just need to accept it for what it is and can’t necessarily compare it to a family trip. How often do you get to give your kid this type of experience. Traditional family trips are always there.

Well said. But what about the kids who got picked to go—are they really good players? DC went to the tryout and got invited, but from what I know, a couple of kids who also tried out got offers even though they’re not exactly great players. Doesn’t it seem like almost everyone got an invite? Also, do they let you know who’s going to be on the team before we pay the deposit?

They dont let you know. I’m not viewing this as a get a trophy event, but more of a holistic experience. Granted, you want to go further to get more out of the event, but I think that is a bit of a trust in the process. The kids who I know that got offers can all play and play at the highest level in the VA area FWIW.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Currently going back and forth on this as well. DC has been invited the last two years without trying out. It's one of those things where I don't know if we would have brought DC to a tryout, but because the invitation is there maybe we just do it. But so much money to spend and not get to sightsee or pick our own restaurants like a normal trip. Could definitely pick cheaper lodging on our own too.

yeah, we are talking through that as well. Part of me says, you just need to accept it for what it is and can’t necessarily compare it to a family trip. How often do you get to give your kid this type of experience. Traditional family trips are always there.

Well said. But what about the kids who got picked to go—are they really good players? DC went to the tryout and got invited, but from what I know, a couple of kids who also tried out got offers even though they’re not exactly great players. Doesn’t it seem like almost everyone got an invite? Also, do they let you know who’s going to be on the team before we pay the deposit?

For those that have been…how were the hotel accommodations that they provide?

Anonymous wrote:Currently going back and forth on this as well. DC has been invited the last two years without trying out. It's one of those things where I don't know if we would have brought DC to a tryout, but because the invitation is there maybe we just do it. But so much money to spend and not get to sightsee or pick our own restaurants like a normal trip. Could definitely pick cheaper lodging on our own too.

yeah, we are talking through that as well. Part of me says, you just need to accept it for what it is and can’t necessarily compare it to a family trip. How often do you get to give your kid this type of experience. Traditional family trips are always there.

Currently going back and forth on this as well. DC has been invited the last two years without trying out. It's one of those things where I don't know if we would have brought DC to a tryout, but because the invitation is there maybe we just do it. But so much money to spend and not get to sightsee or pick our own restaurants like a normal trip. Could definitely pick cheaper lodging on our own too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oscar scamming hard and making bank. The American dream in full essence.

Don’t listen to this goon. It was amazing. We’ve gone twice.

Thanks. Did you run to any issues with the kids not practicing before the event or were they able to gel as a group?

The one drawback. You practiced once you land so you don’t have much time. Coach was amazing, however. Team jelled quickly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oscar scamming hard and making bank. The American dream in full essence.

Don’t listen to this goon. It was amazing. We’ve gone twice.

Thanks. Did you run to any issues with the kids not practicing before the event or were they able to gel as a group?

Anonymous wrote:Oscar scamming hard and making bank. The American dream in full essence.

Don’t listen to this goon. It was amazing. We’ve gone twice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To anyone who went last year, how was the 2025 trip? Would you do it again? Is it “worth” it as an experience? Was there anything you wish they did differently?

Define worth it?

it’s subjective. Worth in this case is subject to the values of the family. But simply said, are you glad you did it.

I asked to define worth it so I will chime in. We are attending this year but did not attend in the past. The best reference for us came from a kid in Philly Union academy who told me it was a fun experience and “worth it.” He is also in the USYNT pool. To be clear, my kid is not but if it was good for that kid, I am cool with it.

We have been to Europe before with another group so the cost is comparable to our other trip and far less than other more commercial tours.

Because they moved it up 2 weeks, it will just be two of us this year. If it was our spring break like last year, I would have brought the whole family.

We are trying to have as much exposure to the international game as possible so we go overseas annually. EVERY trip for us is worth it as the culture is what my child loves and craves. I hope to meet others families like us that have kids who love traveling and playing.

My three expectations are to:

1) Gauge where my kid is technically compared to academy level kids from Spain

2) Get inside details from locals on where to train and play when visiting Europe. I have local academy contacts in other countries but not Spain yet.

3) Eat well, drink beer and watch my kid play (kind of a perfect trifecta)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the thoughtful responses. Did you bring the entire family, siblings, or just you and your player? Curious if it makes sense to make it a family event or not.

We bring the whole family of 4 along and make it a spring break vacation.

Thanks, are there things to do outside of watching kids play soccer like branching off during the day to explore a bit more? If so, were you able to take your player or split up to explore?