San Diego FC Opens Full-Scholarship Residential Academy in Partnership with Right to Dream – Youth Sports Business Report
San Diego FC officially opened its residential academy on September 27, marking a notable shift in how MLS clubs approach youth development. The academy operates under the Right to Dream model, which provides full five-year scholarships to every residential student-athlete covering soccer training, academic education, and character development. According to the club, this approach represents the first time an MLS academy has offered comprehensive scholarships independent of athletic performance.
The facility sits on 28 acres of Sycuan tribal land in El Cajon, sharing space with the Sharp Healthcare Performance Center where San Diego FC’s first team trains. This proximity allows academy players direct exposure to professional training environments and personnel.
“In San Diego, we are creating something entirely new for North America: a residential school and academy with full scholarships for all students and links to Major League Soccer, one of the fastest growing leagues in the world,” said Sir Mohamed Mansour, chairman of San Diego FC and Right to Dream.
A game-changer for youth development.
Honored to celebrate the opening of @sandiegofc's world-class Academy with @right2dream — MLS’s first integrated school and soccer academy starting at the middle school level.
A bold vision. A lasting legacy. The future is now. pic.twitter.com/mDWaHq7L81
The academy’s scholarship model covers the full cost of attendance for five years, including both athletic and academic programming. Unlike traditional pay-to-play structures common in North American youth sports, students maintain their scholarships regardless of soccer performance. This structure mirrors Right to Dream’s existing academies in Ghana, Egypt, and Denmark.
The inaugural class launched with 17 student-athletes on the U-13 team. Most come from San Diego and Tijuana, with a smaller group from open MLS territories. The club plans to expand to additional age groups and girls’ teams in future years.
The academy will compete in MLS NEXT beginning with the 2025-26 season, providing structured competition against other MLS academy programs.
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Right to Dream’s model emphasizes character development and education alongside soccer training. According to Mansour, the program treats sport as an entry point to broader personal development.
“Like our existing academies in Ghana, Egypt and Denmark, the San Diego Academy will prioritize character development and education as much as football,” Mansour said. “Sport is the entry point, but the real mission is to help these young people to discover their potential, build their character, and pursue a meaningful life on or off the pitch.”
The academy’s curriculum integrates academic education with soccer training and what the organization describes as character-building programming. The facility design encourages interaction between academy players and San Diego FC’s professional roster.
“The academy is a fundamental part of this club, and hopefully in five to 10 years we’ll see how important the work has been on the pitch, but especially off the pitch,” said San Diego FC partner Juan Mata, a former Spain international.
Right to Dream operates three other residential academies, located in Ghana, Denmark, and Egypt. These programs have produced players now competing at high levels in European soccer, including Premier League midfielder Mohammed Kudus (West Ham United), Premier League forward Simon Adingra (Brighton & Hove Albion), and Denmark international Kathrine Moller Kuhl.
The organization’s model focuses on integrating young players into first-team environments early in their professional careers. The San Diego facility’s shared campus with the MLS first team follows this approach.
Tom Penn, San Diego FC’s CEO, framed the academy’s opening as central to the club’s long-term identity. “This Academy represents more than just football. It’s a commitment to nurturing our student-athletes, providing them with opportunities to shine, and inspiring future generations across San Diego and beyond,” Penn said.
The San Diego FC Academy’s opening adds a new residential development option for youth players in Southern California and Northern Mexico. The program’s cross-border recruitment strategy reflects the region’s soccer demographics, with the inaugural class drawing from both San Diego and Tijuana.
The academy’s expansion plans include adding older age groups and launching girls’ programming, though the club has not announced specific timelines. As the program scales, its scholarship model and residential structure will face tests common to youth sports facilities: maintaining quality as enrollment grows and demonstrating player progression to professional levels.
The integration with San Diego FC’s MLS operations provides a potential pathway for academy graduates, though the club has not detailed specific benchmarks or expectations for player advancement.
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via: MLS
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