In 2023, Right to Dream expanded its model to the United States, announcing the establishment of its fourth academy, Right to Dream San Diego. Building on decades of impact in in Ghana, Denmark, and Egypt, the San Diego Academy is set to become the epicenter of football excellence and innovation in North America.
The Academy encompasses football, educational, and residential components, offering a unique environment designed for the most talented youth student-athletes to achieve their dreams and graduate prepared for college, for professional careers, and to lead choice-filled lives as positive change-makers in their communities.
RTD ACADEMY
SAN DIEGO FC
The Academy offers a fully funded, scholarship-based program for student-athletes aged 11 to 18, combining elite football development with rigorous academics and character formation. The student-athletes are supported by an international team of top-tier coaches and highly qualified educators who have a deep understanding of local and national standards for teaching, pedagogy for learning, and university access. These educators (coaches and teachers) implement methodologies consistent with the best academies globally, ensuring the student-athletes receive the highest standard of training and preparation for their athletic and academic pursuits.
Located on Sycuan tribal land in El Cajon, the Academy is an integral part of the San Diego FC’s 125,000 square-foot campus and includes a 50,000-square-foot state-of-the-art sports performance facility shared with San Diego FC’s first team and academy teams. The facility features five full-sized football fields, including three natural turf fields and two synthetic turf fields, creating a world-class training environment for young athletes.
The inaugural class begins in August 2025, welcoming boys born between 2012–2014, who will enroll in 6th and 7th grades and form a single team. Over time, the Academy will grow to include grades 6 through 12, boys and girls, and competitive teams spanning the U12 to U16 age groups.
“The San Diego FC Performance Center and Right to Dream Academy will enable us to develop future generations of world-class players across greater San Diego. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to create opportunities for young talent to flourish and our vision to become the epicenter of football excellence and innovation in North America.”