FC Porto is strengthening its international presence with the opening of the newest Dragon Force by FC Porto Football School, this time in Belo Horizonte, Brazil-one of the most important football regions in the world and a strategic market for the Club's global growth.
The new school will become part of FC Porto's international youth development network and will be the 10th Dragon Force school outside Portugal, as well as the seventh to open in just one year, reflecting the project's strong international expansion. Starting next season, the new facility is expected to welcome more than 400 children, contributing to an international community that will exceed 4,500 students.
The school will be based at the Clube dos Oficiais da Polícia Militar de Minas Gerais, a premier venue for the sporting and personal development of children aged 3 to 14. Initially, the project will focus on these age groups, with plans already in place to expand into additional age categories and new locations throughout the state of Minas Gerais, with the goal of surpassing 1,000 athletes training under FC Porto's methodology.
The project will be developed locally in partnership with Futebol Academy and will also be connected to FC Porto's talent development ecosystem in Brazil, particularly through Coimbra Sports, the Club's strategic partner in the country. This collaboration will create an additional pathway for identifying and supporting young athletes with high potential.
Jonathan Tadeu, General Director of Futebol Academy, highlighted the significance of the partnership for youth development: "The partnership between Futebol Academy and Futebol Clube do Porto represents a transformative milestone for our football school. By combining our grassroots development expertise with the tradition, methodological rigor, and winning culture of a European giant such as FC Porto, we significantly raise the standard of development for our athletes. This partnership provides a unique opportunity to offer our young players a high-level learning environment, connecting our local passion with the highest international standards of talent development."
Colonel Fiuza, President of the Clube dos Oficiais da Polícia Militar de Minas Gerais, expressed his enthusiasm about Dragon Force's arrival in Belo Horizonte: "Hosting FC Porto's Football School is a tremendous honor for our club. We have had the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the project's potential, and we are confident it will be a great success for all children who enjoy playing football and, above all, for those who want to learn and develop through an internationally recognized methodology."
Aloizio Gouveia, Sporting Director of Clube dos Oficiais, revealed that the partnership is generating great excitement: "Dragon Force by FC Porto Football School brings a distinctive and comprehensive approach to the development of young athletes who want to play football, promoting values such as discipline, honesty, friendship, and respect. This partnership strengthens the Club's social role by offering top-quality training in a privileged location in Belo Horizonte."
Activities at the new school will begin on August 13 and will, from day one, include the presence of FC Porto technical coordinators, ensuring the faithful implementation of the Club's training methodology.
Ricardo Frey-Ramos, Director of Dragon Force, emphasized the importance of this new milestone in the project's international growth: "This is another landmark moment in FC Porto's international expansion. The development of Dragon Force is built on a clear vision and a sustainable strategy defined by the Club's leadership and supported by a strong, capable, and agile structure, able to respond to the challenges of different markets without losing what defines us: the quality of our training and development process."
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