Ecuador Pro Residency · Ibarra, Ecuador · 2027
Live and train inside Latin American soccer.
Four weeks integrated into the youth academy teams of professional clubs in Ibarra, Ecuador. Train with local youth and pro players, live with an Ecuadorian host family, and play at 2,225 meters in the Andes.
- 4 weeksFull immersion
- Ages 15–22By session
- Host familyLive like a local player
- 2,225 mTraining at altitude
2027 sessions
Choose your session
Three four-week sessions in 2027. Each session is grouped by age, so you train with players at your stage.
Jan 31 – Feb 28
2027 · College & adult players
- Length
- 4 weeks
- Ages
- 19 to 22
- Housing
- Host family in Ibarra
Jun 6 – Jul 4
2027 · Summer session 1
- Length
- 4 weeks
- Ages
- 15 to 19
- Housing
- Host family in Ibarra
Aug 8 – Sep 5
2027 · Summer session 2
- Length
- 4 weeks
- Ages
- 15 to 19
- Housing
- Host family in Ibarra
Spots are limited, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Rooted in Latin American soccer culture
This isn’t a camp. It’s a transformation.
For four weeks, you won’t just visit Ecuador. You’ll become part of it.
You join the formativas, the youth academy teams of local professional clubs in Ibarra. You train every day under Ecuadorian coaches, compete in their matches, and live with a host family, just like the local players do.
It’s soccer the way it’s lived in Latin America: the food, the language, the community and the passion that give this game its soul.
What you’ll gain
Six things you take home
Elite training
Train inside a professional club’s youth structure under Ecuadorian coaches, using the methods that develop players for professional leagues.
Real immersion
Live with a host family in Ibarra and experience Ecuadorian daily life, from the food to the community, exactly as local players do.
Cultural discovery
Explore the Latin American roots of the game. Whether you’re reconnecting with your heritage or discovering it for the first time, it will change how you see soccer.
Brotherhood & community
Build lasting friendships with Ecuadorian teammates and fellow American players, and leave with a network across two countries.
Player development
Individual assessments, video reviews and a post-program development report you can share with your club or college coaches.
Spanish on the pitch
Daily sessions that mix Spanish and soccer, the fastest and most natural way to build fluency. No Spanish required to apply.
The journey
Four weeks, step by step
Every session follows the same four-week structure.
- Week 1
Arrival & orientation
- Welcome and host family placement
- Club orientation
- Fitness assessment and squad integration
- City tour of Ibarra
- First training session with the formativas
- Week 2
Technical foundation
- Twice-daily training
- Tactical video sessions
- First competitive match vs. a local club
- Cultural trip to the Otavalo market
- Spanish-and-soccer sessions
- Week 3
Deep integration
- Full participation in the formativas league
- Individual coaching reviews
- Community service with the club
- Highland cultural experience
- Position-specific training
- Week 4
Culmination
- Final exhibition matches
- Individual player assessments
- Development report presentation
- Farewell event with local players
- Departure
Beyond the four weeks
Stand out, and doors can open.
You train inside a real club environment, and the club’s coaches are watching. If you perform well and adapt to the level and the environment, the club may ask you to stay longer or offer you a spot.
That decision belongs entirely to the club and is based on your performance. It isn’t guaranteed, and Soccer Scouting Pros doesn’t act as an agent or negotiate contracts.
For players under 18, FIFA rules strictly limit registering with a club in another country, so an invitation for a younger player usually means extended training with the club rather than a contract.
The setting
Ibarra, Ecuador
“This is where the Andes meet the beautiful game.”Coach Mario Erazo
Ibarra is the “White City,” a colonial highland city in Ecuador’s Imbabura province, known for its landscapes, its Afro-Ecuadorian and Indigenous cultures, and a passionate soccer tradition.
Training and playing at altitude challenges your physical capacity in ways sea-level training can’t.
- LocationIbarra, Imbabura, Ecuador
- Altitude2,225 m (about 7,300 ft)
- ClubsYouth academies of local pro clubs
- HousingEcuadorian host families
For parents
What families should know
Grouped by age
Summer sessions are for players 15–19. The January session is for players 19–22.
Living with a host family
Players live with Ecuadorian host families in Ibarra and are part of daily family and community life.
A report you can use
Every player receives individual assessments, video reviews and a development report to share with their club or college coaches.
Questions
Ecuador residency FAQ
Who can apply to the Ecuador Pro Residency?
American players ages 15–19 for the June and August 2027 sessions, and ages 19–22 for the January–February 2027 session.
When are the 2027 sessions?
January 31 – February 28 (ages 19–22), June 6 – July 4 (ages 15–19), and August 8 – September 5 (ages 15–19). Each session lasts four weeks.
Where do players train and live?
In Ibarra, Ecuador. Players train with the youth academy teams (formativas) of local professional clubs and live with Ecuadorian host families.
Do I need to speak Spanish?
No. Spanish is built into the program through daily sessions that mix language and soccer.
What is it like to train at altitude?
Ibarra sits at 2,225 meters (about 7,300 feet). The first week includes a fitness assessment and integration into the squad before full training.
What do players take home?
Individual assessments, video reviews and a post-program development report to share with club or college coaches.
Can the club offer me a spot?
It can happen. If a player performs well and adapts to the level and the environment, the club may ask him to stay longer or offer him a spot. That decision belongs entirely to the club, and it isn’t guaranteed. For players under 18, FIFA rules strictly limit registering with a club in another country, so an invitation usually means extended training rather than a contract.
Is this a tryout?
No. The residency is a player development and cultural immersion program. Any invitation to stay longer or join the club comes from the club, based on how you perform and adapt.
How do I apply?
Apply online. Spots are limited, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Become part of it.
Four weeks in the Andes, inside Latin American soccer. Choose your 2027 session and apply.