Villarreal Houston Academy Takes Argentina! 🇦🇷⚽️

A once-in-a-lifetime experience for our players in the land of the World Cup Champions

From October 11th to 17th, ten of our Villarreal Houston Academy players lived out a soccer dream — a full immersion experience in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the home of the 2022 World Cup Champions.

This wasn’t just a soccer trip; it was a complete cultural, educational, and personal growth experience. Our players trained, competed, and explored like true professionals, guided by Villarreal Houston and D10 Football Club coaches.

Training and Competing in Argentina

Players participated in local league games and attended several high-level training sessions with Argentinian coaches, getting firsthand experience with the country’s dynamic and vertical playing style. These sessions challenged our players to adapt quickly — to think faster, move smarter, and understand how different football cultures approach the game.

Cultural Immersion Beyond the Field

The trip also included some unforgettable cultural highlights. The group toured El Estadio de Independiente, attended a professional match (Independiente vs. Lanús), and visited iconic football landmarks such as La Bombonera, El Caminito, and El Tigre.

Off the field, the players and families experienced the heart and soul of Argentina: enjoying a live tango show in San Telmo, the historic tango district, and closing the week with a traditional Argentinian parrillada — the country’s world-famous barbecue shared in true family style.

A Visit to the Heart of Argentinian Football

The highlight of the entire trip was an exclusive tour of AFA Predio Ezeiza, the national training headquarters for all Argentina National Teams. Players toured the professional facilities where La Scaloneta, the women’s national team, and the futsal and beach soccer national teams train and prepare for competitions.

They had a behind-the-scenes look at the fields, recovery areas, locker rooms, gym, and even the players’ rooms — plus a special opportunity to observe a U15 futsal national team training session.

A Message from Our Director

“There are many international opportunities for players in the U.S., but what makes ours different is the purpose behind them,” said Cesar Coronel, Director of Villarreal Houston Academy. “We don’t organize trips just for the sake of travel. We partner with organizations that share our values in player and coach development. Every trip is designed to give our players both football education and cultural growth.”

Born in Argentina himself, Cesar added,

“This visit was especially meaningful for me. Sharing my culture, food, and passion for soccer with our families and players was something I’ll always remember.”

Global Learning Through Soccer

International experiences like this give our players an edge — teaching them to understand and adapt to different playing styles.

“Spain is possession-based,” Cesar explained. “Argentina combines possession with quick transitions and vertical play. Learning to adjust to these different models helps our players grow as smarter, more complete athletes.”

Trips like this are part of Villarreal Houston’s mission to develop not just talented soccer players, but global citizens — young athletes who understand that soccer is a universal language connecting people, cultures, and values.

Interested in joining our academy and being part of future experiences like this one?👉 Visit www.villarrealhouston.com and request a tryout today!