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sports1d ago
Long Beach Forms Overseas Connection with Special French Soccer Program
- Long Beach continues a 30-year program hosting French youth soccer players during a 10-day stay in California.
- The French team trains in Southern California and competes in a local tournament, often reaching the finals.
- Host families provide meals, housing, and cultural exchanges, including excursions to Universal Studios and local events.
- Organizers say the program is rewarding but faces challenges recruiting new host families to sustain it.
- Families emphasize lasting international friendships formed through hosting and visits to France.
- The program aims to pass hosting tradition to younger families and keep the exchange alive for decades.
- Participants describe the experience as a life-changing cultural exchange beyond soccer.
- The French team has historically been the only European squad in the local tournament and has often reached finals.
- Host families often stay connected with players via text messages and visits after they return home.
- The program combines athletic training with family-oriented cultural immersion to benefit both sides.
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