International Soccer Academy

What International Soccer Academy does

International Soccer Academy (ISA) is a U.S.-domiciled private company founded in 2020 by Eddie Loewen and Diane Scavuzzo, operating a portfolio of elite residential youth soccer academy programs that place American and Canadian players inside European professional club structures. The company runs integrated academy teams and gap-year programs in partnership with Bundesliga clubs (Borussia Mönchengladbach, FC Bayern Munich, FC Schalke 04, Hertha Berlin, Eintracht Frankfurt) and La Liga clubs (Sevilla FC, Girona FC, Cádiz CF), plus access to a France-based program through Strive Football Group. Roster sizes are deliberately capped at 20–22 players per team, with delivery on-site at European club facilities in Berlin, Mönchengladbach, Gelsenkirchen, Seville, and Cádiz.

The product is a service-based development experience rather than a technology platform: there is no software product, mobile app, public API, or proprietary model. Players apply by submitting highlight videos and player profiles for evaluation; selected candidates attend Zoom meetings with coaching staff and, if accepted, train under UEFA-licensed coaches, compete against European academy teams, and receive physical therapy, video analysis, and academic support through a partnership with Arizona State University (ASU Prep Digital). The stated value proposition centers on access to professional training environments that are not otherwise reachable from the U.S. market.

The business model is professional-services revenue earned from program fees paid by individual families, with quote-based pricing (no public fee schedule). Customer acquisition is sales-led and high-touch, combining PR/earned media (extensive PRNewswire coverage), organic social, club-partner co-marketing, and a website-driven direct application process. Since inception ISA reports more than 320 player trials facilitated at European clubs and 74 professional contracts signed, with named examples including signings at SV Sandhausen, SC Verl U19 (Bundesliga), and Cádiz CF.

Name

International Soccer Academy

Legal name

International Soccer Academy, LLC

Website

https://internationalsocceracademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

International Soccer Academy is a U.S.-based, private youth soccer development company that places American and Canadian elite players aged 15–18+ in residential academy programs inside European professional clubs (Bundesliga and La Liga), earning revenue from program fees and offering pathways to professional contracts and collegiate soccer.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Soccer Development Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Boarding Schools & Residential Academies (MPAKAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Club Sports Programs (EDALAIAB)

Keywords

• Youth soccer training
• Residential soccer academy
• Professional soccer trials
• European football pathway
• Soccer development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Residential Academy Programs: Full-time residential soccer academy programs where players live and train at European professional clubs. Programs include accommodation, training, competition, and academic support through ASU partnership. Revenue generated from program fees for elite player development services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

International Soccer Academy delivers elite residential soccer development programs for North American youth players aged 15-18+, embedding them inside European professional clubs such as Borussia Mönchengladbach, Sevilla FC, and Girona FC. Players train under UEFA-licensed coaches, compete in matches against European academy teams, and pursue professional trials or collegiate opportunities while completing academic coursework via Arizona State University. Programs are limited to 20-22 players per team, with full-time immersion in professional club structures in Germany and Spain.

Product overview

International Soccer Academy offers a portfolio of elite residential soccer academy programs for American players seeking to train and play in Europe. The core offerings include the Premier Pro Pathway (Bundesliga training in Berlin), Borussia Mönchengladbach Integrated Academy, Sevilla FC Gap Year Program, and Girona FC Gap Year Program. These programs provide full-time residential training within professional European club structures, limited to 20-22 players per team, with multiple weekly training sessions, competitive matches, and academic support through Arizona State University. Past programs include Hertha Berlin Integrated Academy, FC Schalke 04 Integrated Academy, Cádiz CF Integrated Academy, Algeciras CF Gap Year, FC Bayern Global Academy, and Eintracht Frankfurt partnership. The programs are designed for elite youth players and offer pathways to professional contracts or collegiate opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Premier Pro Pathway Elite pathway program for American soccer players aged 18+ to train and play in Berlin with access to professional Bundesliga club environments and UEFA-licensed coaching.
• Borussia Mönchengladbach Integrated Academy Full-time residential academy embedded within Borussia Mönchengladbach's Bundesliga club structure, limited to 20-22 players per team with low coach-to-player ratio, multiple weekly training sessions, competitive matches, and strength and conditioning programming.
• Bundesliga Residential Experience Intensive residential experience at Borussia Mönchengladbach providing immersive Bundesliga training environment for elite American players.
• Sevilla FC Gap Year Program Gap year program for players aged 18+ to train, live, and play soccer in Spain with La Liga club Sevilla FC while gaining exposure to professional game demands.
• Girona FC Gap Year Program Residential program for American players to train and compete with La Liga club Girona FC as part of the structured gap year pathway.
• Soccer Gap Year in Europe Structured year-long program for players 18+ to train, live, and play soccer in Europe within a full-time development structure, with academic coursework options through Arizona State University.
• Professional Soccer Trials in Europe Access to professional trials with European clubs, development within structured club systems, and exposure to scouts and competitive matches.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Borussia MönchengladbachcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 July 2025Integrated Residential Academy partnership launched July 2025. 20 youth players from North America develop at Borussia-Park for nine months, combining sporting and personal development. Includes mentorship from USMNT stars Gio Reyna and Joe Scally. Managing director Markus Aretz officially welcomed the team. Jens Bäumer appointed as head coach.
• Sevilla FCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLa Liga Gap Year programs for American players aged 18+. Players train and compete in Spain with access to Sevilla FC facilities and coaching.
• Girona FCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidential program for American players launched as La Liga partnership. Provides training and development opportunity within Girona FC club structure.
• FC Bayern MunichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFC Bayern Global Academy partnership announced April 2023. Players born 2007-2008 identified for elite development pathway. Training at new state-of-the-art FC Bayern Campus (12 acres with 2,500-seater youth stadium). Halil Altintop, FCB Campus manager, welcomed players.
• FC Schalke 04coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership since 2021. First integrated academy for American players at Bundesliga club. Players trained at Knappenschmiede (academy that developed Manuel Neuer, Weston McKennie, Leroy Sane). Patrick Weiser (UEFA Pro License) appointed head coach for U18/19 team. Partnership entered third season in 2023/24.
• Hertha BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership launched May 2022. U17 team of American players born 2006-2007 training in Berlin. Sporting Director Fredi Bobic and Academy Director Pablo Thiam involved. Players compete against Bundesliga academies. Eight Hertha academy players currently on first team.
• Cádiz CFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLa Liga partnership for American player development. Includes integrated academy programs and pathway opportunities for American talent to play in Spain.
• Eintracht FrankfurtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced February 2021, 5-year agreement. Original partnership that started ISA's European club integration. Fredi Bobic involved at time. Some Schalke personnel moved to Hertha Berlin afterward.
• Arizona State University (ASU Prep Digital)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership allowing players to complete high school or university coursework while training in Europe. ASU Prep Digital provides flexible online curriculum that enables players to balance education with intensive soccer development. Learning coaches assigned to help students stay organized.
• Sportwerk AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to expand access to high-quality youth soccer opportunities in Germany. Provides additional training infrastructure and pathways for ISA players.
• Strive Football GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced March 2022 to provide American players opportunities in France. Includes ICEF (International Center of European Football) residency program in Evian, France. Blaise Matuidi (World Cup Champion, PSG, Juventus) serves as Chief Football Officer. FIFA World Cup champion partnership brings additional credibility.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Soccer Camps International: Aggregator/distributor that places youth players into residential and non-residential soccer camps and clinics across Europe, including at elite clubs. Comparable to ISA at the marketing and placement layer for U.S. families seeking European soccer experiences, though it does not operate its own embedded academy teams.

Broad incumbents

• FCBEscola (FC Barcelona Academy): FC Barcelona's global network of licensed soccer schools, including U.S. locations, built around the club's methodology. Reaches a similar U.S. youth audience as ISA but is primarily a clinic/school network rather than a full-time residential pathway product.
• IMG Academy: Large U.S.-based multi-sport boarding academy offering year-round residential training, academic provision, and collegiate/professional pathways across many sports including soccer. Comparable to ISA on the residential-academy-with-academics model, but operates at significantly larger scale and on a U.S. campus rather than embedded inside European clubs.
• Real Madrid Campus: Real Madrid's international youth development programs and clinics delivering branded soccer experiences globally. Comparable to ISA at the brand and content level, though predominantly short-format rather than full-time residential academy delivery.
• Juventus Academy: Global network of Juventus-branded youth soccer academies and clinics operating across multiple countries, including the U.S. While the operating model is more franchise/network than ISA's exclusive embedded residency, it targets the same elite international youth player pool and competes for visibility with U.S. families.

Direct peers

• Manchester City Football Schools: Global soccer development program run by Manchester City that delivers elite coaching experiences and residential development opportunities for international players seeking a pathway into the City Football Group academy network. Comparable to ISA in targeting high-end international youth with a club-branded delivery model.
• SIA Academy: Residential soccer academy based in Spain offering year-round and short-stay programs for international (including American) players with a similar combination of full-time training, competitive matches, and embedded club pathways. Most directly comparable business model to ISA's Premier Pro Pathway and Sevilla/Girona programs.
• ASPIRE Academy: Elite residential multi-sport academy in Doha, Qatar that recruits top international youth (including footballers) for full-time training, education, and high-performance support. Operates the same integrated residential model with elite coaching, conditioning, and academic provision that ISA offers through its European partners.
• LFC International Academy: Liverpool FC's international youth-development arm running residential and non-residential soccer programs for elite players worldwide, with embedded pathways into the LFC academy system. Directly comparable to ISA's club-embedded academy model, though on the Premier League side rather than Bundesliga/La Liga.
• Strive Football Group: U.S.-facing football development group (including the ICEF residency program in Evian, France) that places American players in European environments and is a listed ISA partner. Operates an overlapping player-pathway model targeting the same North American elite youth demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IntSoccerAcad
• Facebookfacebook.com/InternationalSoccerAcademyResidency
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-soccer-academy-residential
• Instagraminstagram.com/internationalsocceracademyisa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Soccer Academy