Villarreal Houston Players Heading to Madrid Football Cup in Spain

We are thrilled to announce that three of our very own Villarreal Houston Soccer Academy players — Jacob Matthew McLain, Jonathan Gonzales, and Kalel Coronel — are headed to Madrid, Spain to compete in the prestigious Madrid Football Cup from September 19–21, 2025.

This isn’t just any tournament — the Madrid Football Cup is widely regarded as one of the top U14 soccer tournaments in the world. Every year, it attracts elite youth teams from legendary clubs including FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

Some of today’s biggest stars — like Jamal Musiala, Phil Foden, and Warren Zaïre-Emery — once competed in this same tournament, making it an incredible platform for future talent to shine.

A Pathway Built on Global Partnerships

Our players were invited to this exclusive, invitation-only tournament thanks to our collaboration with D10 Football Club in Argentina — just one of several international partnerships that make Villarreal Houston stand out.

We are proud to be the official partner academy of Villarreal CF in Spain, and we also work closely with Villarreal academies in Mexico and with Coerver Coaching in Europe. These relationships give our players rare opportunities to experience different styles of play, high-level competition, and unique cultural and educational experiences.

As Jennifer Coronel, our Director of Communications, explains:

“Unique opportunities like this are what make Villarreal Academy in Houston one of the top clubs in the area for international exposure. Every child’s development path is different, and we understand that very well.”

Building Global Experiences for Our Players

Just this past summer, Villarreal Houston took five teams to Spain to compete internationally and even play at the Estadio de la Cerámica, home of Villarreal CF. Trips like these highlight our commitment to developing not just strong athletes, but well-rounded young people who can thrive on and off the field.

We couldn’t be prouder of Jacob, Jonathan, and Kalel for earning this opportunity — and we can’t wait to cheer them on as they represent our academy on one of the biggest stages in youth soccer.

Want to be part of the next big journey?

Request a tryout with Villarreal Houston by visiting www.villarrealhouston.com or call (281) 962-4920 to learn more.