Latvian Football Federation (LFF) has approved a pilot Centralised Football Academy project, due to begin in the 2026-27 school year. Built around the principle that the country’s leading prospects should train together, the academy is designed to bring talented young players into one programme with regular, high-quality coaching and support for their development on and off the pitch.
LFF sporting director Andrejs Gluščuks said: “The LFF Centralised Football Academy will combine the highest standards of football education, training and infrastructure, ensuring the all-round development of young talents in both sporting performance and personal growth. Our goal is to develop not only outstanding players, but also personalities whose skills and character will contribute to the growth of Latvian football.”
From Monday to Friday, players will train within the academy set-up, before returning to their clubs at weekends for matches and training. LFF said the project will be delivered in close co-operation with youth clubs, with international tournaments and friendly matches set to supplement the weekly programme and help prepare players for Latvia’s youth national teams.
Player selection will be carried out through Latvia’s regional centres and national camps. LFF also said the academy’s head coach will be a specialist recruited with the support of FIFA.
In its first season, the academy will accept players born in 2012, corresponding to the U-14 age group.
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Source: https://lff.lv/zinas/19134/lff-ieviesis-centralizetas-futbola-akademijas-projektu/
