Abbott and Real Madrid Kick Off Search to Empower Young Soccer Talent
- This summer, Abbott and Real Madrid are hosting tryouts across the U.S. to form the 'Abbott Dream Team'
- Tryout attendees will learn about health and sports nutrition, encouraging them to promote healthy habits and an active lifestyle in their communities
- Eleven selected players will travel to Madrid, train at Real Madrid's world-class facilities, and be instructed by Real Madrid coaches
- American soccer icon Clint Dempsey will mentor the athletes throughout their journey
ABBOTT PARK, Ill., May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE:ABT) announced today the creation of the inaugural 'Abbott Dream Team.' The program will seek out talented soccer players from across the United States and give them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Madrid where they will showcase their skills and learn from Real Madrid's legendary coaches. Abbott health experts will provide the athletes with the latest advancements in sports health and nutrition to help them gain a deeper understanding of their bodies and achieve peak performance. Upon returning from Madrid, the 'Abbott Dream Team' members will host health training sessions with Abbott at local soccer and youth organizations to inspire the next generation to embrace healthy habits.
Abbott, in collaboration with Real Madrid, will host tryout events for the 'Abbott Dream Team' this summer in the following five cities: Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Up to 250 athletes, aged 18-19, will be allowed to participate at each location. All participants will engage in intensive soccer training sessions led by Real Madrid coaches and receive health and nutrition education from Abbott. Each attendee will leave with an Abbott health toolkit so they can share their learnings and encourage healthy behaviors within their communities.
The 11 'Abbott Dream Team' players will be selected for outstanding soccer skills, values and determination on and off the pitch and sent to Madrid for an unforgettable experience. They will be trained by Real Madrid coaches inside the club's renowned training facilities at Ciudad Real Madrid and attend a match at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Beyond the pitch, the athletes will meet with Abbott sports nutrition experts and Real Madrid's medical team at the onsite "Abbott - Real Madrid Innovation Lab." They will discuss the latest advancements in athlete nutrition, gaining invaluable health insights to support their sports performance and well-being.
One of the greatest American soccer players of all time, Clint Dempsey, is joining Abbott and Real Madrid to inspire the players throughout the process and share insight into the qualities essential to achieving their goals. Knowing firsthand what it takes to perform at the game's most elite level, Dempsey's advice on hard work, healthy habits and proper nutrition will provide a model for the athletes.
"I benefited from world-class nutritional programming throughout my soccer career, and I know how crucial a strong health foundation is for reaching your full potential," Dempsey said. "That's why I believe Abbott's Dream Team program has the power to change the lives of young athletes by giving them the tools to thrive and uplift their communities."
Joining the 'Abbott Dream Team'
The 'Abbott Dream Team' tryouts will take place from June 17, 2025, to July 24, 2025, and spaces are limited to 250 people per event. Athletes must be between the ages of 18 to 19 at the time of the tryout and provide proof of age. Signup does not guarantee a place in the event and selected participants will be sent a confirmation notice following registration. Tryouts will take place at the following locations and dates:
Tuesday, June 17: Dallas, TX
- ULETE Soccer Center, 2308 Dean Way, Southlake, TX 76092
Wednesday, June 25: Philadelphia, PA
- Vidas Athletic Complex at Drexel University, 4300 Powelton Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Thursday, July 10: Washington, D.C.
- University of Maryland, 90 Stadium Dr, College Park, MD 20742
Thursday, July 17: Chicago, IL
- Lake View High School, 4015 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
Thursday, July 24: Los Angeles, CA
- Jesse Owens Stadium at Cal State LA, 22 Circle Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90032
Regardless of whether they are selected to join the 'Abbott Dream Team,' every tryout participant will receive soccer training from Real Madrid coaches, nutrition education from Abbott and will be enrolled in the Abbott Football Club (Abbott FC), a community of soccer fans who will have access to Abbott nutrition education resources and giveaways featuring Real Madrid merchandise.
Interested athletes can visit www.AbbottDreamTeam.com for more information about signing up for the tryouts and program terms.
Fueling the Next Generation With Good Health
The 'Abbott Dream Team' will not only train with one of the world's top clubs but also learn about the importance of proper nutrition, physical activity and healthy habits from Abbott experts. The players will bring this knowledge home to promote the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle within their local communities by working with Abbott to create health training events at local soccer and youth organizations.
The 'Abbott Dream Team' program is part of Abbott's and Real Madrid's ongoing 'Beat Malnutrition' campaign. Abbott, the Health Sciences and Nutrition Partner of the Real Madrid Football Club, provides nutrition education and malnutrition screening to children in 12 countries (Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, India, Israel, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Tanzania, United Kingdom and United States). Since 2022, the partnership has delivered more than 67,000 hours of health and nutrition education and screened over 6,800 children for malnutrition risk. These efforts contribute to Abbott's goal of transforming care for malnutrition and improving the lives of 3 billion people per year by decade's end.
"Our work with Real Madrid is rooted in empowering future generations through nutrition and sport," said Ann Smith, co-lead of the Abbott Center for Malnutrition Solutions. "Proper nutrition is the cornerstone of a full and healthy life, and we are thrilled to help exceptional young people fulfill their dreams while providing them with the tools to help their communities thrive."
About Abbott
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
Connect with us at www.abbott.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
About Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid C.F. is a sport entity with 123 years of history. It is the club with the most European Cups of both football (15) and basketball (11) and was awarded by FIFA as the Best Club of the twentieth century. Real Madrid has millions of fans in all corners of the world, with more than 620 million followers on social media, being the strongest football brand in the world according to Brand Finance for the third year in a row and also the highest earning football club in the world in the 23-24 season (Football Money League by Deloitte). More information about Real Madrid C.F. is available at www.realmadrid.com, the most visited football club website for the seventh consecutive year.
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SOURCE Abbott