Pathways and Performances Across Three Continents: Right to Dream 2025 Football Review

By Mads Davidsen

Group Head of Football

Everyone has the Right to Dream.

And today, that dream spans three continents.

2025 was a year defined by growth, opportunity, and clear proof that the Right to Dream model continues to work on the pitch and beyond it.

It was a year that saw Right to Dream expand its global footprint with the launch of San Diego FC (SDFC) as Major League Soccer’s (MLS) newest expansion team, marking our official entry into the United States.

It was also a year where we once again celebrated outstanding performances from our women’s and girls’ teams across both CAF and UEFA competitions.

The Foundation Grows

Our academies remain the heart of everything we do at Right to Dream.

They are the foundation of our global football strategy, as we consider ourselves multi-academy ownership, with more academies than clubs.

And that distinction really matters.

In 2025, this foundation expanded further with the opening of San Diego FC’s Right to Dream Academy in October, with the first cohort of 18 student-athletes moving into our Performance Center to live, study, and train in San Diego. It was a major step forward and another historic moment in the Right to Dream journey.

 Right to Dream Celebrates Official Launch of Academy in San Diego

Our International Academy (IA) also had their first spell in San Diego, strengthening the pathway into the US system and reinforcing our belief that we will soon celebrate the first IA player from one of our academies signing for San Diego FC.

Overall, the IA also delivered a highly productive year, maintaining strong standards across both its games programme and training level, as we continue to see it as one of the best transition programs (ages 16–18) in world football.

None of this would be possible without the quality foundation work delivered every day across our campuses in Ghana, Egypt, and Denmark. So, whether you are a coach, teacher, scout, or part of our staff, your work and efforts matter, locally and globally.

Two Historic Achievements

FC Masar Women enjoyed a fantastic year, winning the Egyptian Premier League for the second consecutive season and reaching the CAF Champions League semifinals also for the second year in a row.

FC Masar Crowned Egyptian Women’s Premier League Champions — Again

Hosting the CAF Champions League tournament at our Right to Dream campus in Badya was another historic moment. What was desert land just a few years ago became the stage for an official Champions League match in 2025, offering a powerful symbol of progress and belief across our community.

In Denmark, FC Nordsjælland Women wrote their own chapter of history by qualifying for the inaugural UEFA Women’s Europa Cup. This campaign included the first ever European home match at Right to Dream Park in Farum. The journey continues into 2026, with a quarterfinal matchup against German side Eintracht Frankfurt.

Read: FC Nordsjælland Women Reach Europa Cup Quarters

Like any football team, results matter. But at Right to Dream, what matters most is how we win and who we win with. Both FC Masar and FC Nordsjælland fielded the youngest squads in their respective CAF and UEFA competitions, reflecting our commitment to creating opportunities for young players and giving them the space to grow and shine.

Youngest Backline in MLS History

In MLS, San Diego FC made an immediate impact. As an expansion club, the team broke several records and reached the Western Conference Final, with so much history written in only 11 months.

To put the journey into perspective: in May 2023 San Diego FC did not yet have a single employee.

One moment in particular captured our identity. In a match that San Diego FC won against Atlanta United, our team fielded the youngest backline in MLS history, featuring:

-          Oscar Verhoeven (19)

-          Luca Bombino (19)

-          Manu Duah (20)

-          Ian Pilcher (22)

Once again, it was a moment that showed that success for us is not just about winning. It is about creating pathways and trusting young players.

And as we look ahead to season two, we seek to take the next steps towards further strengthening the squad with even more Right to Dream graduates.

Record Sales and 2008 Debut

At FC Nordsjælland Men, 2025 was another year of opportunity for young graduates, with many players earning debuts and valuable minutes at first-team level.

The club once again reached record transfer figures, with players such as Lucas Høgsberg, Sindre Walle, Daniel Svensson, Benjamin Nygren, and Mario Dorgeles showing how we develop players for the highest level of the game.

Late in the year, Villads Rutkjær became the first player born in 2008 to make his first-team debut, showing the strength of our global pipeline and the future ahead.

The transfer of central defender Lucas Høgsberg (2006) was a standout example of the model in action. After breaking into the first team and earning a call-up to the Danish senior national team, he completed a move to RC Strasbourg. Just as importantly, Noah Markmann (2008) stepped in seamlessly to replace him, maintaining performance levels as the next talent was ready.

We also said goodbye to long-serving captain Kian Hansen. True to the Right to Dream philosophy of creating pathways, we are pleased that Kian remains within our community, now developing as a coach as FC Nordsjælland U19 assistant coach.

A Third Men’s Pathway

In Egypt, FC Masar Men achieved promotion for the fourth consecutive year, securing a place in the fully professional second tier of Egyptian football.

This milestone allows us to present a third men’s professional pathway, alongside FC Nordsjælland and San Diego FC. Players can now develop across different stages of their careers within our ecosystem.

Already, three Right to Dream Egypt graduates are part of the FC Masar men’s first team squad and receiving playing time. It provides clear evidence that the model is being executed at the pro men’s level in Egypt as well.

Looking Ahead

 We constantly monitor developments across world football to ensure we remain proactive, strategic, and prepared for the future.

It’s why 2026 will not be about standing still but will be another year of pushing boundaries, breaking records, and proving that the Right to Dream model can go even further.

This progress, from creating pathways for young talent to competing at the highest level, requires long-term commitment and belief. A sincere thank you to our ownership and the Mansour family for making this possible through their vision, trust, continued support, and alignment with our football strategy — all fundamental to achieving our long-term goals.

Everyone has the Right to Dream.