Youth Soccer Trips to Europe — Benfica Experience, Summer 2025: Living Like an Academy Player

To finish off an amazing summer of our soccer camps in the U.S., we traveled to Lisbon for one of our youth soccer trips to Europe — the Benfica Experience. Our players got to live and train like academy players for a week, and it truly felt special. The trip was full of football, friendship, and memories that will stay with us for a long time.

From the moment we arrived, we knew it would be something special. For many of the kids, it was their first time in Europe, and they were so excited. We trained at the official Benfica Academy training center, the same place where some of the biggest Benfica stars train. The sessions were high quality, focused, and fun, and the kids loved every minute of it. We had the honour of being coached by 5 official Benfica academy coaches.

During the week, each team also played friendly games against competitive local teams from Lisbon and nearby cities. The matches were challenging, but they gave the players a real taste of Portuguese football. Outside of training, we got to explore Lisbon. We visited the Estádio da Luz, did a full stadium tour, and even saw Benfica’s famous eagle, Vitória. The kids were amazed. We also learned about the history of the club and the city, took walks around Lisbon, and even spent some time by the beach. It was a very immersive experience, both on and off the field.

One of the best parts of the trip was seeing how much the group bonded. In just one week, the players went from being strangers to becoming teammates and friends. They supported each other, played together, and created memories that will stay with them forever.

At the end of the trip, we chose three MVPs who stood out not only because of their skills, but also because of their attitude, teamwork, and behaviour off the field. They were great examples for everyone.

None of this would have been possible without our amazing coaches and chaperones, who made sure everything went smoothly and helped make this experience so special for the kids.

The most rewarding part for us was watching the players grow not just in their game, but as people. The Benfica Experience is about more than football. It’s about learning, connecting, and living something new.

We can’t wait for the next group to join us and for more unforgettable moments ahead. December is right around the corner, and we’re already looking forward to the next experience.