Eli, the preacher's grandson, wants to play football

Eli doesn't look at your face . Not even at your hands or your shoes. His gaze has an owner. The same one that guides millions of 14-year-olds like him. The soccer ball.

Eli is Elías Valdez . He copes with the heat of the June afternoon in Madrid at the Antonio Sanfiz Stadium, home of Aravaca Club de Fútbol. The goalkeeper is part of a group of young Americans who will compete in various youth soccer tournaments in both the Community of Madrid and Catalonia.

While the United States is the epicenter of international soccer with the Club World Cup , its youth team is trying its luck in Europe. That day, a friendly against the Aravaca team. Eli will play the second half of the match. His grandfather watches from the bench.

Dressed in the team uniform, he traveled with the group to be with his grandson. He resembles one of the usual Spanish images of the grandfather supporting his son while he plays soccer. In Chicago, Illinois, Rosendo Valdez is considered one of the most authoritative voices within the community. He is the pastor of the Nueva Jerusalén Evangelical Baptist Church . He asks to be called Shando, has a certain Argentine accent when he speaks, despite being the son of Mexican immigrants, and is recognizable by the unmistakable Soccer logo on his polo shirt.

"He was a man angry with the world"

Shando 's story with faith isn't one of love at first sight. "Of course I knew God, I'd been raised in a Christian environment, but I was even angry at him. If he existed, why did he allow evil?" He was 18 and in a whirlwind of self-destruction. His mother's illness, an immigrant from Monterrey (Mexico), bad company, his age... A perfect breeding ground for crushing the ambitions of that Chicago boy who loved basketball.

— Oh, right, like people who cheat, right?

— Yes, the term "preacher" sounds strange to us in Spain, like a charlatan. Something very bizarre and extravagant.

He found refuge in the community, and more specifically, in a pastor named Tim who served as a mentor. "They saved me, and I found myself again. My congregation even paid for my college education. Thanks to my roots, I dedicated myself to helping the city's Latino community. I worked a lot with drug addicts, people with social problems... I was going to give back everything they gave me."

His work with the Church took him to Argentina, specifically to Buenos Aires: "I'm often mistaken for my accent. I didn't speak Spanish fluently before I was in Latin America." There he met Lilliana, who would eventually become his wife and mother of three children. After three years, he returned to Chicago. His ambition was to contribute to the community, and he remains there , at 59, in the same Church where he began.

Trump and immigration

Shando isn't surprised when he's told about the impact Donald Trump's second term is having in Spain. It's in the news daily, both domestically and around the world. The preacher speaks slowly and weighs his words when discussing the 45th and 47th presidents of the United States. Anti-immigration policy was a fundamental part of his campaign and agenda. "Forty-five percent of Latinos voted for Trump," the pastor recalls. "It's true that his support has been especially among men [53% of Hispanic men voted for the businessman, his best result among that group in three previous elections], and although it has been attributed to economic issues, immigration was something that was of great concern ."

The minister defines himself as a "constitutional Republican." His work as a political consultant is described in "Savia bienvenida ," a decalogue that Shando presents to other Latino religious leaders who, throughout the vast North American geography, express "many doubts" about the situation in the country. During the first 100 days of the new administration, 139,000 immigrants were expelled, along with 145,000 detentions . These practices include random raids with discretionary arrests.

"It's a multifaceted issue. We can't approach it from a situational perspective, from knowing someone who's been detained, or from an emotional perspective. We also see a lot of political interests," explains Shando, who advocates for border regulation. His voice is being heard. Among others, by Toman Homan , the "border czar," Trump's strongman on immigration and a staunch defender of strict immigration legislation.

These harsh political measures have caused painful situations in all sectors, including sports. School competitions are also affected. There are increasing cases of players who cannot risk traveling to certain states for fear of a raid that could result in the deportation of the accompanying parent . "We want everyone to have opportunities, and that's what the biblical teachings convey, and we also want the nation to be protected," the pastor reaffirms.

Shando and Elias traded a pleasant 72°F (22°C) for the scorching Madrid summer sun, which reached 103°F (39°C) at six in the evening. The two are part of the Soccer Dreams expedition, a soccer school in Illinois coordinated by a Spaniard, Santiago Rubio Gilabert , who has been in the United States for 24 years. Rubio has been doing these types of summer tours for some time, combining it with his job as a gym teacher in Highland Park—sadly famous for the mass shooting that occurred in July 2022.

After a lifetime dedicated to youth soccer, he acknowledges a certain "concern" about the situation in the United States, both in terms of immigration and education. He leads a group of more than five kids divided into two groups, U19 and U16. "There's a bit of everything here, wealthier people and more humble people. The only thing I look for is that they're good people; I don't want any problems, especially outside of home," he says. Far from the stereotypes of soccer, there are only four Latinos in the group.

Rubio acknowledges that there are two types of profiles for these trips: sports trips and experiential trips , with a more recreational and leisure-oriented purpose. In the former, his school acts as a scout in the US, and the most experienced soccer players end up making the move to these tours. "It's around $4,000 for these two weeks, including two tournaments, accommodations, etc.," confirms the director.

For the vast majority of youth teams, establishing a network in the United States is impossible. Santiago, in Spain, collaborates with Armando de la Morena , one of the leading names in Madrid youth football. He has 17 years of experience in Atlético de Madrid's youth system; players like Koke, Rodrigo Hernández, and Álvaro Morata started with him. In 2008, he founded the Dribling Madrid Academy, which serves as a liaison for Soccer Dreams when they travel to the capital, as in this case for the MadCup. "Nobody knows more about youth football than he does," Rubio assures.

According to industry sources, these dates, along with Christmas, are crucial for the major youth teams in Spanish football. "Before the preseason, it's important to strengthen the team. It makes sense to look for players who are finishing their youth training and moving up to the youth teams. It's a big deal," they assert. These summer trips take place from the United States, but also from Latin American countries or Australia. There are companies whose business consists of transporting young aspiring footballers, regardless of their skill level, through youth teams in Spain... paying high costs along the way .

Santiago Rubio laments these cases: " Many are just looking to get money from their parents . It's a shame, because American soccer players have to try their luck in Europe." The youth soccer coordinator comments on a common situation in the US: when the cutoff for university sports, infinitely superior to Spanish sports due to media coverage and structure, is made, teams prefer to bring in 23-25 ​​year-old players from Europe, who haven't succeeded in the old continent, instead of betting on local products: "Even in the MLS, you see American players who haven't even had a stint abroad."

Eli and a change in dreams

"The first time I saw him, he was playing for the opposing team. I remember that match perfectly. It was a blast. We created 10 or 12 clear chances against them; they had two or three. We lost because of him; he stopped everything," Rubio recalls about how he met Elias Valdez. Like any 14-year-old, he's shy. He doesn't speak Spanish, despite his heritage, except for the usual "thank you." He plays with his gloves and a water bottle to calm his nerves. Why goalkeeper? "It was my father's position. I've followed in his footsteps."

"Yes, yes, hasn't he told you? My son, Shando, also tried out for goalkeeper. He was good, but in the end, he couldn't make it as a professional. In fact, he met Samantha , Elias's mother, because they both played soccer ," the preacher says. Elias cracks a half-smile when asked about the Club World Cup in his home country. "Well, there will be other opportunities. Being here is important." If anyone asks which team he supports, his answer: "I'm a Real Madrid fan."

"Elias is a great kid. And then, he's strong, tall, and still has a lot of growing to do," the reverend reflects, letting his grandfatherly side shine. The second half of the match begins. Eli finds space in one-on-ones and flies when the shot finds the top corner. He orders his defense , yells at the odd one. He has work to do; Aravaca is getting more dangerous.

—Do you think Eli would stay in Spain to continue playing soccer?

— [Thinks] Look, he's going to do everything he can to achieve his dream. He's very passionate.

Once upon a time, an American boy wanted to succeed in baseball, the NBA, or the NFL. Football has entered the equation for his dreams. Time will tell if Eli achieves it; he'll always be able to say his grandfather did his best.