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BVB International Academy - North America
The Ultimate Player Development Pathway with BVB International Academy

Train. Compete. Represent. Travel. The School of Excellence (SOE) is the elite identification and development program within BVB International Academy North America — designed for the top-performing youth players who are ready to take the next step in their football journey. This is where the best rise to represent the badge on a global stage.

What is the School of Excellence?
The BVBIA School of Excellence is a year-long player pathway that identifies and develops top talent across North America through advanced training, mentorship, and international exposure.
Every season, BVBIA technical staff evaluate players across our network of academies and invite the best to regional SOE Player ID Events. These events serve as a gateway to national selection, offering players an opportunity to compete among the top athletes in their age group and train under the guidance of our elite coaching staff — including direct involvement from Borussia Dortmund's world-renowned development team.

The Process

The School of Excellence experience is built on three key stages:

1. Regional Player ID Events
Hosted in major cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, these events bring together the top players from each region. Overseen by BVBIA’s national staff and Dortmund’s official coaches, these events are the first step in identifying standout talent ready for more.

2. National Player ID Event
Selected players from the regional events are invited to National School of Excellence ID Event, designed to identify the top players around the BVBIA North America network

3. The SOE Trip to Germany
The pinnacle of the School of Excellence is the ultimate reward: an invitation to train and compete in Dortmund, Germany, the home of Borussia Dortmund. Players experience a once-in-a-lifetime immersion, including:
        • Training sessions at the official BVB Training Ground
        • Friendly matches vs. BVB Academy team
        • A matchday experience at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK
        • Cultural excursions across Dortmund and North Rhine-Westphalia

This opportunity is a transformative experience that connects our players to the global BVB family.

MORE INFO


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THE PATHWAY TO GERMANY

The path to the top begins in your own community.

1. COMPETE 

LOCALLY

2. TALENT IDENTIFICATION

3. PLAYER EVALUATION

4. NATIONAL TEAM PLAYER POOL

5. TRAVEL TO GERMANY 

HOW IT WORKS

LOCAL TALENT ID EVENTS

Hosted in local markets, the first round of Talent Identification takes place by local and regional coaching staff.



REGIONAL TALENT ID EVENTS

Hosted across both the East and West Regions, Regional Talent ID Events are led by BVBIA coaching staff and are the next step in identifying top players to advance.


NATIONAL TALENT ID EVENT

The National Talent ID Event brings top players identified through the East and West events. Players compete for the opportunity to travel to Germany and participate in National Team player pools.

SOE TRIP TO GERMANY

Top players may earn the opportunity to travel to Dortmund, Germany for high-level training, international competition, and direct exposure to the culture and methodology of Borussia Dortmund.

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

Learn more about the School of Excellence process.

LEARN MORE