Want to be the next Messi, Ronaldo or Yamal? UAE kids now have a real shot

Dubai: Every child dreams of being the next Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo — or, more recently, Lamine Yamal. Now, a groundbreaking partnership between City Football Schools and Al Jazira Club Academy is turning that dream into a genuine opportunity for talented young footballers in the UAE.

Starting next season, City Football Schools will deliver coaching for Al Jazira’s Academy foundation phase, targeting boys and girls aged six to nine. It marks the first time a professional player pathway of this kind has been introduced at such an early stage in the UAE.

“This is a revolutionary partnership that will provide young players an incredible footballing opportunity for years to come,” said Simon Hewitt, City Football Group’s Head of Football Operations Mena. “We will look for the best six to nine-year-olds in Abu Dhabi and give them an incredible start to their football journey. Everything from coaching to facilities and pastoral care will be best in class, with the goal of harnessing their skills and helping them reach the next level.”

The new programme complements the existing City Football Schools set-up, which already trains more than 2,500 players — male and female — each week across eight venues in the UAE. But this partnership with Al Jazira goes a step further: it links raw grassroots talent with a professional club structure, offering a route that could lead all the way to the UAE national team.

“The pathway being created between City Football Schools and Al Jazira Club hasn’t been seen before in the UAE,” Hewitt added. “It will benefit players, the Club, and the wider football ecosystem in the country.”

Al Jazira’s Sporting Director, Scott Sellars, said the Club is proud to play its part in nurturing the next generation.

“As the Pride of Abu Dhabi, we want to be able to offer young players the opportunity to excel and go as far as possible in the world of football,” said Sellars. “We’re excited that some of the players who join us next season might one day run out with not only our first team, but also the UAE national team.”

Open trials for children born in 2017, 2018 or 2019 will be held on June 21, from 9am to 1pm, at Active Al Maryah Dome, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi.

City Football Schools brings more than a decade of experience in the UAE, grounded in the philosophy and elite training methods of the Manchester City Academy. All coaches are a minimum Uefa B qualified and have completed Manchester City’s in-house education programme.

They will introduce Al Jazira’s youngest players to a proven training methodology used across all City Football Group clubs worldwide — designed to create elite players in a safe, creative and positive environment where happiness and well-being are prioritised.

This partnership isn’t just about developing footballers — it’s about building dreams from the age of six. And for the lucky few, it could be the first step toward becoming the next big name in world football.