LALIGA and EA SPORTS FC (TM) conclude the international final stage of Next Gen Drafts 2026 in Spain

LALIGA

2026/6/5 10:15

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-Young talents selected in Nigeria, China, Japan, Morocco and Mexico enjoy a unique sporting and educational experience alongside LALIGA clubs and academies-

MADRID, June 5, 2026 /LALIGA=Kyodo JBN/ -- LALIGA and EA SPORTS FC (TM) have held in Spain the final stage of the second edition of Next Gen Drafts, the global youth talent development project promoted together with EA SPORTS FC (TM), which brought together young footballers from Nigeria, China, Japan, Morocco and Mexico in Madrid and Jerez for a high-performance competitive training camp, as well as a comprehensive sporting, educational and cultural experience within the LALIGA ecosystem.

At the beginning of the project, participants were selected through various international scouting events. The selection process considered not only sporting criteria, but also social factors. From all candidates, eight participants per region — four boys and four girls — were rewarded with an exclusive training camp in Spain, where they had the opportunity to train, live together and compete in a high-performance environment.

The experience began on 25 May in Madrid with a welcome ceremony held at LALIGA headquarters, before the participants travelled to Jerez, the main venue for the training camp. Over several days, the young players took part in training sessions, educational workshops and cultural activities, in addition to competing against the academies of LALIGA clubs such as Sevilla FC, Real Betis and Atlético de Madrid.

The programme also included visits and activities in cities such as Cadiz, Seville and Madrid, as well as tours of some of the most iconic venues in Spanish football, including the Bernabéu, the Riyadh Air Metropolitano and the Ramón Sanchez-Pizjuan.

Juan Florit, Head of Sporting Projects at LALIGA, highlighted the consolidation of the project following its second edition: “We are very proud to see how Next Gen Drafts continues to grow internationally in its second year and how it is establishing itself as a genuine platform of opportunities for young people around the world. This final training camp in Spain perfectly reflects the impact football can have as a tool for education, integration and personal development, while also allowing participants to experience first-hand the values and environment of LALIGA.”

The farewell ceremony held this Tuesday in Madrid brought the curtain down on an edition that confirms the international growth of Next Gen Drafts and reinforces the shared commitment of LALIGA and EA SPORTS FC (TM) to increasing access to football and creating opportunities for future generations.

EA SPORTS FC FUTURES: Looking Towards the Future

EA SPORTS FC FUTURES is EA SPORTS FC (TM)’s long-term global initiative to invest in grassroots football. In addition to supporting more than 15 partner programmes and donating equipment in over 10 countries, the project includes a free online library of training drills for coaches to use in their daily sessions. These exercises combine visual elements from the game with guidance from expert coaches, connecting the physical and digital sides of the sport to create innovative learning experiences for young players.

The project also invests in the refurbishment of football pitches in underprivileged areas to promote sport and provide safe spaces for local youth. Previous refurbishments have taken place in Madrid, Malaga, Cape Town, Cheng San-Seletar, Jalisco, Medellin, Sao Paulo, Ceuta and New York.

About LALIGA

LALIGA is the largest football ecosystem in the world. It is a private sports association composed of the 20 public limited sports companies (SADs) and clubs of LALIGA EA SPORTS and the 22 of LALIGA HYPERMOTION, and is responsible for organising professional football competitions in Spain. LALIGA has over 258 million followers globally across social networks, on 16 platforms and in 20 different languages. With its headquarters in Madrid (Spain) it has the most extensive international network of any sports property and is present in 35 countries through 8 offices. The organisation carries out its social work through its foundation FUNDACION LALIGA and was the world's first professional football league to establish a league for intellectually challenged footballers: LALIGA GENUINE Moeve.

Source: LALIGA

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