16 Elite Youth Soccer Players Visit Italy with Il Viaggio
16 players traveled to Italy as part of the Italian Football Association (FIGC) and PUMA’s Il Viaggio program that gave players in the U.S. and Canada a chance to experience soccer the Italian way. Il Viaggio provided selected players with an all-expense paid trip to Italy to see Italian soccer first hand. The group of elite youth players had a chance to attend a friendly match between Italy and France as well as train at the FIGC headquarters located in Florence.
Related Articles: Once-And-A-Lifetime Italian Experience for Youth Soccer Players – Il Viaggio; Puma Il Viaggio Takes Elite Youth Soccer Players to Italy
Youth Soccer News: The Italian Football Association (FIGC) and PUMA’s Il Viaggio program has concluded its trip to Italy as 16 players received an opportunity to train at Coverciano, the Italian Federation HQ & training facility, and participate in a friendly match versus U15 Fiorentina.
Il Viaggio is a program developed by PUMA and the FIGC that gives players in the U.S. and Canada a chance to experience real Italian soccer. This year, Il Viaggio program gave U.S. and Canadian male players born in 2000 and 2001 the opportunity to participate. Next year, it will be girls who are provided this unique opportunity.
Il Viaggio, Italian for “The Journey” culminates with a once-in-a-lifetime experience to learn to play football the Italian Way — by being flown over to Italy for free.
In 2016, trials were hosted in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto with the final National Trails held in early August in Florida. Hundreds of players showed up for the three regional trials — and 30 elite youth soccer players were selected to possibly #BeTheNext— and only those advanced to the National Trials where the final roster of 16 elite players was identified.
16 players traveled to Italy decked out in PUMA gear, including their choice of evoPOWER, evoSPEED, and evoTOUCH boots, training gear, a backpack, game jerseys and more.
The squad arrived in Bari on September 1st for Italy’s international friendly matchup versus France at Stadio San Nicola. Following the game, the group was taken down to the player and media tunnel and had special access to meet and greet players from the national team.
Gianluigi Donnarumma, Daniele de Rossi, Alessandro Florenzi, and Graziano Pellé took pictures and signed autographs with the players as well as the FIGC General Manager.
The following day the team traveled to the city center of Bari to meet up with PUMA representatives prior to an official press ceremony launching the new Italy away kit, which was commemorated with a 3D art installation in the Piazza del Ferrarese. The group then took a bus ride to Florence where they would spend the rest of their trip at Coverciano – the Italian National Team headquarters.
On Saturday, the team trained twice in preparation for its friendly match the following day against U15 Fiorentina. After training and dinner the group visited the Italian Football Museum. Pieces of history were on display to help illustrate the legacy of Italian soccer to the young players.
The match against Fiorentina was the culminating part of the program that allowed for the players to prove why they were selected in April at their Regional Trial, prove why they were selected for the National Trial, and ultimately prove why they were selected for the Italy trip.
The Il Viaggio team played against an experienced Fiorentina side who won the Italian championship last season. Heading into halftime, Il Viaggio was only down 1-0. The team was able to move the ball well through the midfield and along the backline, but weren’t able to develop a strong attack.
In the second half, transatlantic fatigue plus the minimal two training sessions together as a group started to show — and the Il Viaggio team wasn’t able to fight their way back into the match, but this was an amazing training experience — which helped each individual player deepen their passion for soccer .
After the game and dinner, the team went into Florence so players could walk around and sightsee. The players had a chance to take pictures at Ponte Vecchio as well as climb the stairs to Piazzale Michelangelo to see an amazing view of Florence.
On September 5th, the whole squad flew to Amsterdam bright and early where everyone headed their separate ways to conclude an experience of a lifetime for the 16 players.
The elite group of youth players got to show off their skills in one of the greatest soccer hubs in history as well as embrace the Italian culture surrounding the beautiful game.
Congratulations to all traveling players! We look forward to next year’s edition of Il Viaggio which will be sending the most talented young ladies in the country to visit Coverciano.
Puma has created an outstanding program for youth soccer players in America and the Il Viaggio combines the best of training with experiencing soccer first hand in Italy.
Providing the chance for youth soccer players to meet and train with the top officials at the Italian Football Federation (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio; FIGC) affords a unique experience. After all, Italy has won the FIFA World Cup 4 times.
As one of the world’s leading sports brands, PUMA has raised the bar of successful involvement with the youth soccer market. If you want to catch up on some of PUMA’s favorite new designs, check out their revamped online store – Fuel for Fans.
