San Diego FC’s Right to Dream Academy has officially opened its doors, becoming a fully-funded residential school and soccer program aimed at nurturing young soccer talents. This trailblazing initiative, located on the Sycuan Reservation in El Cajon, is designed to provide a unique and comprehensive experience for aspiring soccer players.
The academy welcomed its first group of student-athletes amid great excitement. Among them is 11-year-old Nicolas Bolivar, a striker who expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity to join this pioneering program. “It’s been one of the best experiences I’ve had, if not the best. I just don’t want to leave to my parent’s house when we go,” said Nicolas, one of the select few to make the academy’s inaugural youth club.
The Bolivar family, originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, now resides in Chula Vista. Nicolas’s father, Manuel Bolivar, proudly spoke about his son’s achievement and the professionalism exhibited by the team and academy staff.
Right to Dream Academy represents a first-of-its-kind initiative within Major League Soccer (MLS). Young athletes live, study, and train on the academy’s premises, alongside professionals from the local MLS team, San Diego FC. This exposure to professional players offers valuable lessons in discipline and professionalism, as noted by Nicolas, who observed the professional conduct of SDFC players.
Another young talent, 12-year-old Thiago Terrazas from Tijuana, joined the team as a center-back. Living and playing with his idols, such as renowned Mexican star Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, has been a dream come true for Terrazas. “It means a lot because he has a lot of history, and he was like for me, the best player here in San Diego,” Terrazas shared.
The academy’s ability to serve as a bridge to professional soccer stands out, offering opportunities that were previously unavailable to young talents in the San Diego and Tijuana regions. The program began with 17 players in its U-13 team for the 2025-26 season. There are plans to expand to include more age groups and girls’ teams in the future.
Notably, this initiative has fostered a multilingual environment. Nicolas Bolivar, fully bilingual, is instrumental in helping peers overcome language barriers. “It’s been really nice speaking both languages because I can talk with people that don’t speak Spanish or don’t speak English,” Nicolas remarked.
With dreams of turning professional, Nicolas and his teammates have their eyes set on a bright future. The Right to Dream Academy not only provides a pathway to professional soccer but also instills values of camaraderie and cultural exchange, paving the way for the next generation of soccer stars.