San Diego’s Major League Soccer team, which is owned by Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Mansour, plans to construct a training and youth academy on 28 acres of Sycuan tribal territory in El Cajon. The move marks the first time a professional sports team has launched a training facility on tribal land, according to a team announcement Sunday.
The upcoming project will occupy an area currently part of Pine Glen Golf Course and the Singing Hills Hotel. It will introduce a Right to Dream residential youth development academy, the first in the United States.
San Diego MLS President Tom Penn remarked: “We couldn’t ask for a more perfect location for our training facility and Right to Dream Academy. This land is absolutely beautiful — rich with tradition and heritage — which will give us the foundation to achieve our vision to become the epicenter of football excellence and innovation in North America. We are grateful for the unwavering support of our Club ownership Mr. Mohamed Mansour and Sycuan.”
The campus, spanning 125,000 square feet, will feature a 50,000-square-foot advanced sports facility. Additionally, 10 existing hotel structures will undergo renovations to serve as student housing, the Right to Dream school, staff housing and offices, and guest lodgings.
Facility plans include five soccer fields — three with natural turf and two synthetic. Training zones will be set amidst the scenic Sycuan tribal landscape, and various infrastructure upgrades will be incorporated.
Sycuan Tribal Chairman Cody Martinez said the training center on tribal land is a testament to the mutual passion and commitment to San Diego. “The establishment of the San Diego MLS training facility and youth academy right here on our reservation represents a powerful convergence of our shared passions and our commitment to the San Diego region,” he said. “We are immensely proud of what this moment represents. It signifies a new chapter in the story of the Sycuan Tribe and San Diego — a chapter where we come together through our shared love for soccer to build a brighter future for our youth, our city, and our tribe,” he added.
The Right to Dream Academy, initially a modest soccer school in Ghana, was acquired in 2021 by Mansour, who also owns San Diego’s upcoming MLS team, set to debut in 2025.
Mansour stated: “We pledged to bring the renowned Right to Dream academy model to San Diego, and today, we fulfill that promise. This academy has made significant strides in Africa and Europe. Given San Diego’s rich soccer talent, we’re eager to witness its transformative effect here.”
Officials indicated the academy would serve students aged 11 to 18, covering grades 6-12. The Singing Hills Hotel will be refashioned to house youth academy dorms and educational facilities for resident students.
The groundbreaking ceremony is set for November, where facility designs will be showcased and details of the Right to Dream approach will be elaborated on.
