UD Las Palmas Signs Collaboration Agreement with CF Academy to Launch Official UDLP Camps in the United States.

Roger Hampel

Image: UD Las Palmas

UD Las Palmas has signed a collaboration agreement with CF Academy LLC, a New Jersey–based organisation, to officially launch the UDLP Camps USA, marking the club’s first structured development initiative in the United States. The project represents a strategic step in the club’s international expansion and its long-term plan to export its youth development methodology.

The partnership will run between December 2025 and June 2026, with activities taking place in several U.S. states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and Philadelphia.

A Strategic Entry Into the U.S. Youth Development Market UD Las Palmas

The agreement sets a cooperation framework enabling the organisation of training camps, clinics and educational events across multiple American cities.The first activity will be a March 2026 camp in New Jersey, delivered in collaboration with Drew University. Subsequent camps will expand into key East Coast markets — regions with high youth football participation and a growing appetite for European club programming.

This marks the first formal step of UD Las Palmas in the U.S. market, with the club indicating that further partnerships and initiatives may follow depending on the evolution of this initial phase.

Exporting UDLP’s Official Methodology to the United States

UD Las Palmas, through its Escuela de Fútbol, will provide its official training methodology and send licensed coaches to lead the sessions in the U.S. This approach mirrors the model used by other Spanish clubs entering North America: exporting technical identity while working with local operators for logistics, infrastructure and administration.

CF Academy will handle:

• operational coordination,

• logistics and administration,

• enrolment management,

• insurance arrangements,

• and agreements with educational institutions hosting the camps.

The collaboration includes licensing of UD Las Palmas’ name, crest and brand assets, and authorises the sale of official products during the camps — strengthening the club’s visibility in a competitive youth development market.

Project Objectives: Grassroots Development, Talent Discovery and Brand Expansion

The UDLP Camps USA initiative aims to:

• promote football participation among children aged 7–17,

• export UD Las Palmas’ sporting and educational values,

• identify emerging talent across multiple U.S. states,

• reinforce the club’s international presence,

• and create safe, structured learning environments in school and community settings.

This combination of grassroots development and brand expansion is in line with broader strategies adopted by LaLiga clubs seeking sustainable positioning in the U.S. market ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

CF Academy Perspective: A Strategic Partnership With Long-Term Potential

CF Academy director Carlos Figueroa emphasised the significance of partnering with UD Las Palmas, noting the club’s reputation for education-focused talent development. He described the initiative as “a decisive step” toward offering high-level football training experiences in the U.S. and highlighted the potential for the collaboration to expand into new programmes over time.

For CF Academy, the agreement also positions the organisation within a growing landscape of U.S.–European youth development partnerships, where demand for authentic club-branded training experiences continues to accelerate.