There is something special about Barcelona. It is not the beaches, cuisine, or the stunning architecture; it is the heartbeat of football that permeates every single street. This spring, that beat welcomed a team of young players from the Utah State Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program, trading the mountains of Utah for Spanish sunlight in what proved to be an unforgettable soccer tour of Spain.
From high-quality training sessions to getting an up-close experience of La Liga games, their Barcelona soccer tour was infused with experiences that blended sport, culture, and personal enrichment.
Two La Liga Games, One Unforgettable Experience
It’s one thing to tune in to La Liga on television. It’s another to sit in the stands, hear the chants reverberate through the arena, and witness legends in person. The Utah State Youth Soccer squad was able to do it twice.
Their customized itinerary had in store for them not one, but two La Liga soccer matches, the first being a trip to RCD Espanyol vs. Atlético Madrid and the second being the iconic FC Barcelona vs. Girona FC which is considered a local rivalry. Both of them offered a different kind of excitement. The first was an engrossing, tactical duel, the second an appreciation of free-flowing passing and unadulterated panache.
For most of these players, it was their first time watching top flight European football in person. One could see by the expression on their faces a mix of awe and inspiration. The sort of moment that reminds you why you loved the game to start with.
Training with the Best: RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona Academies
The tour’s crown jewel of any Spanish soccer camp tour is the chance to learn from the source, and this soccer tour was no different. The team had the chance to train with top-level coaches at the academies of RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona, where tactics were played, technical accuracy was emphasized, and creative thought was encouraged.
Spanish coaching sessions are a clinic of details. The trainers focus on thinking, speed, positioning, and ball control, the kind of things that separate great from average players.
For Utah players, these sessions were not drills; they were classroom lessons in how to think differently about the game. One of the players summed it up perfectly:
“It is not about kicking the ball long or running faster, it was about learning to play smarter, and how to move the ball though tight spaces.”
These are the kinds of lessons that linger long after the tour has finised.
Confronting the Future: A Game Against FC Barcelona’s Junior Academy
If watching La Liga was thrilling, facing the FC Barcelona youth academy in a game was purely unforgettable. The final night match was the climax of the entire trip, a luxury for an entire week of sweat and tears, sacrifice and love.
Highlights of the Tour:
- Matches vs Spanish Opposition: Utah State played 2 matches one against Gimnastic De Tarragona and the other against Reus Deportivu, both professional teams that play in the 3rd and 5th division of La Liga. Their final match vs FC Barcelona Academy at La Masia the academy of FC Barcelona
- Training Sessions: During the week the Olympic Development Programme players training with the Catalan FA where they learned how the Spanish work on plays and tactics. They also got to visit and train at the academy of RCD Espanyol who play in the La -Liga Premier division along side FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. They 4th session was with the professional coaches of FC Barcelona’s youth academy at La Masia.
- Live Match Experiences – Not 1 but 2 live La Liga matches during the tour made this action packed itinerary even more memorable
- Ballon, D’or & Champions League: Getting to see the Ballon D’or of Leo Messi and the Champtions League, Copa Del Ray and La Liga trophies during their FC Barcelona immersive tour experience.
- Larger Than the Result: It wasn’t just about winning but about developing the experiencing of global competition and understanding that they actually belong on the same field as some of the best around the world
It was precisely what Spanish soccer tours for youths are all about, learning from the best, overcoming challenges, and crafting potential into confidence. This experience was a vision of the future and a reminder that moments like these shape young athletes for life.
Outside the Pitch: Unveiling the Magic of Barcelona
This soccer tour from the USA to Spain would have been incomplete without soaking in the culture. During training and matches in between, the team explored Barcelona’s famous landmarks. From the towering Sagrada Família to the busy lanes of Las Ramblas and the legendary Camp Nou which was under construction at the time of visit but the group got to experience the current state of the building.
Every corner of the city appeared to awaken with history and life. There was real Spanish tapas, beach walks, and even a dose of learning some local words. This became a beautiful dive into culture, enabling the team to develop a new appreciation for the world around them.
It is this blend of soccer and cultural travel that makes European soccer tours for youth teams so worth it. It’s not all about improving on the pitch; it’s about opening up perspectives off it.
A Journey That Transformed Players and People
Before they finished, something was different. The players returned home not only with souvenirs and memories but with confidence, discipline, and a greater vision of the game. Times like these shape character.
They discovered that winning in soccer, as in life, is about curiosity, collaboration, and pushing yourself out of comfort. And nowhere is there a better classroom than Spain’s fields of play.
Finally, the Utah State Youth Soccer ODP La Liga tour Experience was designed to push players beyond their comfort zones and expose them to new footballing philosophies. Every session, match, and cultural experience was built around one goal, to develop better, more confident players on and off the pitch, and that was accomplished on this tour.
Already Planning and Confirmed on a Spanish Soccer Tour for 2026
The tour of Spain and Barcelona with the soccer team of Utah State Youth Soccer was such a success the state organsation have already confirmed another 2 tours in 2026 with DB Sports Tours with over 150 people attending the 2 tours one in March and one in May. To book your 2026 or 2027 Spring or Summer tour please contact DB Sports Tours via email.
Why Teams Choose Us for Soccer Tours to Spain
This soccer travel program was designed to give young players more than a vacation, it was designed to give them a pro-level experience that’s safe, organized, and unforgettable.
DB Sports Tours organizes soccer tours and tournaments to Europe, helping youth, high school, state organization, private academies and college teams train with top academies, play against top-level competition, and explore the world through sports.
Whether it’s your first international soccer tour or your tenth, our mission is simple: to turn your team’s travel goals into meaningful memories & make your soccer dream a reality
Ready to Plan Your Team’s Soccer Tour?
Your players deserve experiences that inspire them to dream bigger, on and off the field. Thinking of how to plan the best soccer destination in Europe or soccer tours for American Teams?
Let’s make that happen.
Contact us today to start planning your customized soccer tour to Spain or other top European destinations.
