LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Las Vegas kids at a local soccer academy are watching the World Cup final with extra pride this year.
Villarreal Las Vegas Academy is directly affiliated with the Spanish club Villarreal, and three players on Spain’s national team came through that youth system. Rodri and Alex Baena are both expected to start in Saturday’s final against Argentina. Jeremy Pino is on the bench.
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“We’re ecstatic because there’s players that were part of the Villarreal Youth Academy system in Villarreal. And for us to be a club that represents the same badge that those players once wore is amazing,” said Patrick Wasiak, technical director at Villarreal Las Vegas Academy.
Spain vs. Argentina
Spain last competed for a World Cup championship in 2010 — the year of its only title. Saturday’s final marks the country’s first return to the championship match since then.
Argentina, the defending champion after winning the 2022 World Cup, enters the final with Lionel Messi.
“You have someone who is considered to be the greatest of all time in Lionel Messi versus a country that has continuously produced some of the best players in the entire world in Spain,” Wasiak said.
The academy’s connection to Spain
Las Vegas is part of the Villarreal North America program, which operates academies across the United States. Wasiak said the Las Vegas academy follows the same training methodology used by Villarreal in Spain and hosts coaches from the Spanish club’s youth academy to help develop local players.
“We really do try to emulate what Villarreal in Spain does when it comes to player development and coach education,” Wasiak said. “We feel that there are main principles that we can apply to our players and our training environments right here in Las Vegas.”
The club serves boys ages 5 through 18 and also fields girls’ teams. It competes in local youth soccer leagues as well as national platforms including the Elite Academy League and the National One League.
Watch party
The club is organizing a watch party Saturday for players, teams, coaches and families to cheer on Spain in the final. Families interested in joining the academy can visit villarreallasvegas.com or find the club on Instagram at Villarreal Las Vegas Academy.
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