New football center aims to develop young talent across the Kurdistan Region.
A new football academy affiliated with Real Madrid CF officially opened in Erbil on Friday, signaling a significant investment in youth sports and football development in the Kurdistan Region.
The academy, established within the Erbil Avenue complex, will offer structured football education and training programs for children and teenagers between the ages of 4 and 17. The initiative is designed around internationally recognized coaching methods associated with one of Europe’s most successful football clubs.
Organizers say the project is intended to identify and develop promising local players while giving young athletes access to professional training environments that meet global standards.
According to Jasim Salem, who oversees the academy, public response has been strong, with approximately 500 students already enrolled ahead of the start of training activities.
Salem noted that participants will also have the chance to travel to Spain once each year to tour Real Madrid’s facilities and experience professional football culture firsthand.
“The goal is not only to improve football skills, but also to expose young players to international experiences that can inspire and motivate them,” he said during the opening ceremony.
The launch event was attended by senior Kurdish officials, sports administrators, and public figures, many of whom described the academy as part of a broader push to strengthen athletic programs and youth engagement throughout the region.
Bakhtiar Farhad, adviser on sports affairs to the Kurdistan Region Council of Ministers, said the academy reflects ongoing efforts led by Masrour Barzani to expand opportunities for young athletes and improve sports services.
Farhad added that similar initiatives could eventually be introduced in other cities across the Kurdistan Region.
For his part, Omed Khoshnaw said the academy would contribute to the city’s growing sports sector and help create more pathways for talented youth.
Meanwhile, Safeen Yasin, head of Erbil SC, expressed hope that the academy would help produce more competitive local players and strengthen domestic football in the long term.
The academy’s head coach, Juan José Romero, explained that enrollment is being handled online and is open to children from all parts of the Kurdistan Region. Players will be assigned to training groups based on both age and ability level to ensure focused development.
Football remains deeply popular among young people in the Kurdistan Region, and the opening of the academy is widely viewed as another sign of growing regional investment in sports, youth programs, and modern athletic infrastructure.