August 5 was arrival day. From then until mid-May, Genoa is home for the YWC Future 2026-27 group: American players from several states, joined by a few Italian athletes, all with the same goal, a year of soccer and study to arrive ready for college in the United States.
It All Starts with Preseason
The first two weeks are preseason: training every morning with the YWC staff, strength and conditioning, technical work and the first friendlies. They serve to regain rhythm after the summer, to get to know each other on the field and to give the staff a precise picture of each player, which becomes the basis for individual development plans.
In the first few days, each athlete also completes the sports medical exam for competitive eligibility, the required step before club registration.
Then the Season
From late August the program takes its in-season shape: morning sessions with the YWC staff, training and matches with the Genoa FIGC clubs where the players are registered, and classes in between. We will announce the first signings here, one by one.
Life by the Sea
The group lives in a seaside residence on Genoa’s eastern side, a few minutes from the field and the train station. The city center is twenty minutes away by train, and in the other direction are Camogli, Portofino and the Cinque Terre. The first photos come from there.
What We’ll Cover in This Section
In this Magazine category we tell the story of the YWC Future year: preseason, signings with clubs, matches and life in Genoa. To learn how the program works and how to join, visit the YWC Future page. To apply, the way in is through the showcases.
