The 10 best full board football camps in the world
Is your child mad of football ? They eat, sleep and breathe the game and you want to give them something they’ll talk about for years ? Not a weekend kickabout but a proper week away: professional coaches, top facilities, teammates from across the world, and football from morning to evening ? That’s what a residential football camp delivers. And the very best ones are run by different clubs around the world. Looking For Soccer has selected the top full board football camps across England, France and Spain for 2026. Here’s what you need to know. Whether you want a one or two week camp, you are sure to find the one that is 100% perfectly adapted to your child!
Best residential football camps in England
We’ve put England first, because for many British families, keeping it closer to home makes sense. And when the clubs on offer include Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, there’s no shortage of quality.
Arsenal FC Football Camp
Arsenal FC needs no introduction. One of the most storied clubs in English football, the Gunners have built a reputation for developing technically gifted, tactically intelligent players, and that philosophy runs right through their official camp programme.
The Arsenal FC residential camp takes place at Oundle School, near Peterborough. Players train under the “Play the Arsenal Way” curriculum, designed by the club’s Technical Director of Development. The programme includes up to 30 hours of training per week, covering technical, tactical, physical and mental aspects of the modern game (source: looking-for-soccer.com/arsenal). Coaches are official Arsenal FC staff, with many holding UEFA A, UEFA B or UEFA Pro licences.
Why this camp stands out:
- Up to 30 hours of training per week
- Official “Play the Arsenal Way” methodology
- UEFA A, UEFA B and UEFA Pro licensed coaches
- Choice of football-only or football plus English language programme
- Excellent facilities at Oundle School, near Peterborough
Camp details:
- Language: English
- Season: Summer
- Duration: 1 or 2 weeks
- Residential option available
- Ages 9 to 17
- All skill levels
- Open to boys and girls
- Location: Oundle School, Peterborough, England
Liverpool FC Football Camp
Liverpool FC is one of the great institutions of world football. Anfield. The Kop. Multiple league titles and European cups. The club’s residential camp brings that heritage into a genuinely high-quality coaching experience for young players.
Training takes place at Repton School, which is one of the finest sports campuses in the country. Depending on the programme chosen, players complete between 19 and 32 hours of coaching across the week, with specialist workshops woven throughout. An optional English language element is available for international participants.
Why this camp is outstanding:
- Training at Repton School, one of the UK’s premier sports facilities
- 19 to 32 hours of coaching depending on the chosen programme
- Specialist workshops for a well-rounded development experience
- Optional English language sessions available
- Official Liverpool FC kit included for every participant
Camp details:
- Language: English
- Season: Summer
- Duration: 1 or 2 weeks
- Full board only
- Ages 9 to 17
- All skill levels
- Open to boys and girls
- Location: Derby, England
Manchester City Football Camp
Manchester City’s recent dominance of English and European football has been built on world-class infrastructure, elite coaching and an unwavering commitment to a clear footballing philosophy. Their residential camp gives young players access to all three.
Training takes place at the Etihad Campus, which is the club’s official training ground, where the first team prepares each week. The programme adapts to each participant’s level, with options for football only or football combined with English language tuition.
Why this camp delivers:
- Training at the Etihad Campus, Manchester City’s official training facility
- Programme tailored to individual player levels
- Guided tour of the Etihad Stadium (55,000+ capacity)
- Football-only or football plus English language options available
Camp details:
- Language: English
- Season: Summer
- Duration: 1 week, 12 or 14 days depending on the programme
- Full board only
- Ages 9 to 17
- All skill levels
- Open to boys and girls
- Location: Etihad Campus, Manchester, England
Best residential football camps in Spain
Spain remains one of the most popular destinations for British families looking to combine a football experience with sunshine and a taste of European culture. The technical quality of coaching is consistently high.
Atlético Madrid Football Camp
Atlético de Madrid’s youth academy is considered one of the finest in La Liga and in European football more broadly. Their approach to developing young players is built on technical precision, tactical discipline and a competitive mentality that runs through every level of the club.
The camp runs across Madrid and the surrounding region each summer for boys and girls aged 6 to 17. Players are grouped by age and ability, trained by official Atlético Academy coaches, and supported with leisure and evening activities throughout the week.
Why this camp is worth considering:
- Official coaches from the Atlético de Madrid Academy
- Methodology from one of Europe’s top youth development clubs
- Supervised leisure and evening activities included
- Personalised attention based on age and ability
Camp details:
- Season: Summer
- Duration: 1 week (multiple weeks available)
- Residential option available
- Ages 6 to 17
- All skill levels
- Open to boys and girls
- Location: Madrid and surrounding area, Spain
Soccer Inter Action — High Performance Camp
For the more serious player looking to push their limits, Soccer Inter Action in Valencia is a genuine step up. With over 5 hours of football per day and a 33-hour weekly programme delivered by coaches affiliated with the FC Valencia Academy, this is one of the most demanding residential camps available in Spain.
Players stay at the SIA Center, a premium residential facility with professional-grade training infrastructure, just outside Valencia.
Why this camp delivers:
- 33 hours of training across the week
- Coaches from the FC Valencia Academy
- Premium residential facility with full board
- City visit and Mestalla Stadium tour included
Camp details:
- Language: English and Spanish
- Season: Summer
- Duration: 1 week
- Full board only
- Ages 6 to 16
- Intermediate to advanced level
- Open to boys and girls
- Location: SIA Center, Valencia, Spain
Book the Soccer Inter Action Camp
ProFutCamps Football Camp — Marbella, Málaga
The Costa del Sol. Natural grass pitches. UEFA PRO licensed coaches. And a four-star hotel in Marbella. ProFutCamps has built one of the most internationally recognised residential football camps in Europe, with over 8,000 participants from more than 80 nationalities since its founding (source: profutcamps.com).
Morning and afternoon training sessions are structured around measurable progression. Evenings bring a full social programme including swimming, beach volleyball and excursions to Puerto Banús.
Why this camp stands out:
- UEFA PRO licensed coaches throughout
- 4-star hotel accommodation in Marbella
- Structured morning and afternoon training with tracked progression
- International atmosphere: players from 80+ countries
- Evening activities: swimming, beach volleyball, gym, futsal
Camp details:
- Season: Summer (multiple weeks available)
- Duration: 1 week minimum
- Residential option available
- Ages 6 to 23
- All skill levels
- Open to boys and girls
- Location: Marbella, Málaga, Spain
Best residential football camps in France
France has produced some of the finest footballers in the world, and its coaching culture reflects that. For families looking for a European adventure combined with top-level football, France offers excellent value.
PSG Academy Football Camp
Paris Saint-Germain has become one of the world’s most recognisable football clubs. Their residential camp combines 20 hours of structured football training with a genuine Parisian cultural experience, making it a strong choice for families who want their child to come back having grown both as a player and a person.
Why this camp is extraordinary:
- 20 hours of football training per week
- Visit to the Parc des Princes
- A full day at Disneyland Paris
- Cultural visits: Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Champs-Élysées
- Optional English language classes available
Camp details:
- Season: All school holidays (autumn half-term, Christmas, Easter, summer)
- Duration: 1 week (2 weeks for the international programme)
- Residential option available
- Ages 8 to 17
- All skill levels, from recreational to elite
- Open to boys and girls
- Location: Mesnil Saint-Denis, Île-de-France, 28 km south-west of Paris
PSG Academy Pro — High Performance Programme
For players already competing at a high level, the PSG Academy Pro programme offers a more intensive training environment with individual coaching feedback and a focus on elite player development.
Why this programme is different:
- Designed exclusively for high-performance players
- Intensive training with PSG methodology
- Individual player monitoring throughout the week
- Elite technical coaching staff
Camp details:
- Season: Summer
- Duration: 1 week
- Residential option available
- Ages 14 to 18
- High performance level
- Open to boys and girls
ASSE Saint-Etienne Football Camp
Saint-Étienne is one of French football’s most famous clubs, having produced players of the calibre of Michel Platini and Dominique Rocheteau. Their residential camp offers a genuine club experience in a relaxed, welcoming environment.
Daily training sessions, friendly matches and a Friday tournament give players the chance to put everything they’ve learned into practice in a competitive setting.
Why this camp works:
- Training at one of France’s most historic professional clubs
- Visit to the Geoffroy Guichard stadium
- Opportunity to meet professional players from the club
- Final tournament on Friday
Camp details:
- Season: Summer
- Duration: 1 week (multiple weeks available)
- Residential option available
- Ages 8 to 16
- All skill levels
- Open to boys and girls
- Location: Montbrison-Précieux, Loire, 30 km from Saint-Étienne
Foot Breizh Academy — Brittany, France
Brittany is one of France’s most beautiful regions and the Foot Breizh Academy takes full advantage of its setting. Available across all school holiday periods, this programme offers individually tailored coaching from UEFA A and UEFA B licensed coaches, with beach football and futsal sessions adding variety to the week.
Why this camp is worth a look:
- Personalised programme for every player
- Coaches with UEFA A and UEFA B licences
- Beach football and futsal sessions included
- Comfortable twin room accommodation
Camp details:
- Season: All school holiday periods
- Duration: 1 week minimum (multiple weeks available)
- Residential option available
- Ages 9 to 16
- Intermediate to high performance
- Open to boys and girls
- Location: Brittany, France (Côtes-d’Armor and Morbihan)
Book the Foot Breizh Academy Camp
How to choose the right residential football camp
Before getting into the programmes themselves, a few questions worth asking to make sure you pick the right one :
- Has your child stayed away from home before? A residential football camp means several nights away from family. For younger children in particular, this can take some getting used to. If it’s their first time, look for a camp with strong welfare provision and 24-hour supervision.
- What is their actual level? Beginner? Regular club player? Already on the radar of an academy? The answer matters. Some camps welcome all abilities. Others are designed specifically for high-performance players.
- How long and what’s the budget? Most camps run for one or two weeks. Costs vary depending on the country, the club and the facilities on offer. Club camps in England and Spain tend to sit at the higher end, but the quality of the experience reflects that.
- England, France or Spain? Each destination brings something different. England offers intensity, physicality and a winning mentality and for many British families, it’s the natural first choice. Spain delivers technical football, sunshine and a possession-based approach. France combines a strong footballing tradition with excellent coaching infrastructure.
Why book through Looking For Soccer?
There’s no shortage of football camp options out there. What’s harder to find is confidence that the programme you’re booking will actually deliver what it promises.
Looking For Soccer is the trusted platform for booking football camps for children and teenagers. We work only with programmes we’ve personally assessed: professional clubs, high-level private academies, and proven experiences across 10+ countries.
Why families choose us:
- Rigorous vetting: we only feature camps evaluated against clear standards, including coaching quality, facilities, player development, supervision and safeguarding.
- Tailored advice: our team is on hand to help you find the right programme for your child’s age, level and your family’s budget.
- Available 7 days a week: whether you have a question before booking or need support during the camp, we’re here.
- 496+ verified reviews: read what other families say about us on Trustpilot.
- Secure online booking: book with confidence, with flexible payment options available.
Get in touch with the Looking For Soccer team
Final thoughts
A residential football camp is one of those experiences children genuinely don’t forget. New friendships, a new country, proper coaching and real improvement on the pitch, all in one week. Whether your child dreams of pulling on an Arsenal shirt or training at the home of Manchester City, there’s a programme in this list that fits their level, their age and your budget.
The Looking For Soccer team is available seven days a week if you’d like a hand choosing. Contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions about full board football camps
How old does my child need to be for a residential football camp?
Most camps accept players from age 6. For younger children, it’s worth making sure they’ve already had at least one night away from home before committing to a full week. Residential camps are well supervised, but it’s still a significant step for a young child.
What’s the difference between a day camp and a residential football camp?
At a day camp, players return home or to local accommodation at the end of each training day. At a residential camp, everything happens on-site: training, meals and accommodation. Players are fully immersed in the football environment throughout the week.
Should we choose England, France or Spain?
England is a natural choice for many British families, particularly if you want your child to train under a Premier League club’s coaching staff. Spain suits players who want to develop their technical game in a warmer climate. France offers a strong footballing tradition and easy access from the UK. Our team can help you weigh up the options based on your child’s profile and your priorities.
Can we book two weeks?
Yes. And for many families, it’s well worth it. Most camps offer two-week options, which gives players more time to embed what they’ve learned and make real progress.
Are these camps open to girls?
Yes. All camps featured here welcome both boys and girls unless specifically noted otherwise. Browse our girls’ football camps.
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