The Away Game: The Epic Search for Soccer’s Next Superstars

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By Sebatian Abbot ’98

Published Jan. 17, 2018

Led by the scout who launched Lionel Messi’s career, Football Dreams, a program designed to discover soccer stars, holds tryouts each year for millions of 13-year-old boys across Africa. Reporter Sebastian Abbot ’98 follows a group of boys as they train at the academy in Doha, Qatar, and compete for a spot in one of Europe’s top clubs.

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PAW’s May 2026 cover, featuring a photo of an orange flower.
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