LALIGA and EA SPORTS have launched the second edition of the Next Gen Draft, an international youth development programme designed to identify and nurture young football talents.
The 2026 edition of the initiative will kick off in Nigeria on January 30, with Lagos hosting the opening phase of the global programme. About 900 children from around the world are expected to participate.
The Next Gen Draft is part of EA SPORTS FC FUTURES, EA SPORTS’ long-term global initiative focused on investing in grassroots and community football.
Read Also: LaLiga, EA SPORTS launch ‘Next Gen Draft’ to develop young football talent
Announcing the new edition, LALIGA and EA SPORTS said the initiative underscores their shared commitment to creating real opportunities for the next generation of footballers while expanding the programme’s global reach.
Nigeria hosts opening phase
The Lagos leg of the programme will run from January 30 to February 1, 2026, at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium, Onikan.
According to the organisers, the event will feature 168 young players, comprising males and females, from across Nigeria.
From Lagos to Spain
The programme in Lagos is being organised in collaboration with the Nationwide League One (NLO) and the Lagos State Football Association.
Nigeria marks the first stop of a global project that will also take place in Mexico, Japan, Morocco and China, with the final phase scheduled to be held in Spain.
Under the LALIGA FC FUTURES Next Gen Draft, participants will go through four structured phases designed to assess both football skills and character.
The first stage is the FC Rush Tournament, inspired by the EA SPORTS FC video game. Registered players will compete in fast-paced 5 by 5 matches, played over two seven-minute halves, with more than 80 matches expected to take place in a single day.
The second phase, FC FUTURES Academy Training, will see the selected players receive personalised coaching from UEFA PRO-licensed coaches from LALIGA, using the league’s official training methodology. At the end of this phase, 32 players, 16 girls and 16 boys, will advance.
In the third phase, the remaining players will take part in a full 11-a-side match against a local team.
From the Lagos programme, four males and females will be selected to travel to Spain for a fully sponsored 10-day football experience organised by LALIGA and EA SPORTS.
The final phase, scheduled for June and July, will bring together 40 young players from all participating countries in Spain.
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