Benfica and FC Dallas sign partnership

PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT

On Tuesday, February 13, Sport Lisboa e Benfica signed a talent development partnership with FC Dallas. The agreement brings together two of the most successful academies for young athletes to offer a pathway to the first soccer team, both in the United States and in Portugal.

Benfica, winners of 38 national championships and two European Champion Clubs' Cups, and FC Dallas, two-time MLS Open Cup winners, will collaborate in an exchange of technical knowledge that will allow young talents to experience different styles of play and cultures in order to improve their personal and professional development.

"The United States is a strategic market for Benfica's growth strategy," claimed Manuel de Brito, vice-president of Benfica. "Soccer has been the fastest-growing sport among young people in the United States, and Benfica has been actively looking for opportunities over the last two years. We believe this partnership will help us increase our presence in the United States. FC Dallas is the leading youth soccer academy in America, as several former FC Dallas Academy players are on the national teams of the United States, Mexico and Canada. So, approaching FC Dallas was a natural step for Benfica. The possibilities are endless, and I believe this partnership will be a success," he praised.

"Developing talent from our core is one of our main philosophies at FC Dallas", said FC Dallas president Dan Hunt. "Partnering with a club that shares this commitment, with the legacy and talent that Benfica has, allows us to continue to create incredible opportunities for athletes and soccer professionals around the world," he said.

"This partnership allows us to give our players worldwide exposure to one of the best Academy programs in soccer," said FC Dallas technical director André Zanotta. "Our shared philosophies make this an ideal partnership for our clubs," he said.

Benfica and FC Dallas will also collaborate in sharing training methodologies and knowledge that have helped develop several national team players, such as Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias, João Félix, João Cancelo, Chris Richards, Ricardo Pepi, Jesús Ferreira and Paxton Pomykal.

"Player development is at the heart of Benfica's DNA, and we are proud of the work we have done in this area," said the general manager of Benfica Campus, Pedro Mil-Homens.

"We're looking forward to sharing our vision and experience with FC Dallas, and we'll certainly learn from them too. This collaboration will benefit many of our players, who can have new experiences and an additional career path in the United States," he added.

Benfica has won the prize for best academy in the world three times at the prestigious Globe Soccer Awards in the United Arab Emirates. Located on the modern Benfica Campus, it has been honing the skills of countless young athletes, developing their potential and projecting them onto the world stage.

The FC Dallas Academy is considered one of the best in the United States. Thirty-seven players from the FC Dallas Academy have signed for the club's first team, the highest number in Major League Soccer, with eight players currently occupying places in the squad.

Benfica's presence in the United States has been growing in recent years, and the Club is actively engaged in initiatives that promote growth and collaboration. This commitment is exemplified through the organization of training camps, where aspiring players from all over the United States have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Benfica's rich soccer culture, while receiving top-level training and guidance.