A flyer announcing the FC Wheeling first scheduled game in a tournament in Chile was released by Internacional de Fútbol Infantil.

WHEELING – The FC Wheeling United U13 boys team is preparing for a rare international opportunity as it readies for a trip to Chile, where the players will compete in the Torneo Internacional de Fútbol Infantil in Santiago. The team leaves for South America today.

For the players and their families, the journey represents a year of planning, fundraising and careful preparation. For head coach Jose Fuentes, it began with a desire to stretch his team beyond the familiar rhythm of regional tournaments and into something transformative.

“I was looking to take the team outside of the area. I was looking at possibly Columbus, Cleveland or Pennsylvania. I was looking to do more,” Fuentes said. “And the opportunity to travel to Chile came up and I presented it to the families about a year ago and we broke down how much everything would cost and then we started fundraising. We raised $25,000 to help cover the flights, uniforms and transportation costs. I presented it to 18 families and 15 are going.”

The Torneo Internacional de Fútbol Infantil is a multi-day youth competition that brings together academy and club teams from Chile and other countries, emphasizing player development, international competition and cultural exchange. Youth tournaments of this scale are a cornerstone of South American soccer culture, where the sport is deeply embedded in community identity and professional development pathways.

For many players, it is their first exposure to international play — a faster, highly technical style that demands quick decision-making and creativity. Teams compete in multiple matches against unfamiliar opponents, offering both a competitive test and an opportunity to form connections that extend beyond language and borders.

The U13 squad is scheduled to compete in a four-team tournament during the first week of March.The trip is structured to balance match play with cultural immersion, allowing players to engage with international teams not only on the field but through shared activities and experiences off it. Fuentes, who also serves as head coach for the club’s U12 team, has emphasized that the goal is as much about personal growth as performance.

The $25,000 fundraising effort — powered by families, local sponsors and community donors — will help cover flights, lodging, meals, transportation, tournament fees and team gear. Fuentes made clear that the trip would not have been possible without that support.

“Shoutout to those to the sponsors and all the people who supported the trip and who stepped up and made it possible,” Fuentes said. “I just want to thank everybody who stepped up and donated. The $25,000 we raised made it possible and made it affordable. I can’t say enough about all the support we have received.”

Thomas Olivier of the Wheeling Area Soccer Association said the idea quickly evolved from a proposal into a shared mission.

“Coach Fuentes brought the idea to me and asked me what I thought and I said ‘go for it.’ He pitched the idea to the team and the families jumped at it,” Olivier said. “Then they hit the ground running.”

As excitement built around the trip, the club also unveiled specially designed jerseys – detailed in a post on the club’s facebook. According to FC Wheeling, the uniforms were intentionally crafted to reflect both the destination and the players at the center of the journey.

The design incorporates symbolic elements throughout: a copper-toned condor representing Chile’s national bird and the country’s historic copper industry, mountain imagery symbolizing the Andes that frame Santiago and a red, white and blue color scheme connecting the flags of Chile and the United States. Stars are woven into the design, one representing each of 15 players making the trip — a visual reminder that the experience is centered on the boys themselves.

In its post, the club described the jerseys as more than a uniform, calling them a reflection of where the team comes from and where it is headed. The club thanked Fort Henry Capital as the official sponsor of the jerseys and credited designer Pat Daugherty for bringing the concept to life in a way that captures the meaning behind the journey.

More than just shirts, the jerseys symbolise the broader purpose of the trip – a chance to grow both on and off the pitch.

“This is a cultural experience – a-once-and-a-lifetime opportunity,” Olivier said. “It’s a great experience for our 13U team. They will get the opportunity to play in some games and watch some training but they will also get to see the sites and not only learn about a different culture but travel there and experience it. It’s just a tremendous opportunity.”

While in Chile, the team plans to visit museums and historic landmarks throughout Santiago, further immersing themselves in the culture of the Chilean capital. The itinerary is designed to ensure that players return home with more than match results — gaining perspective through travel, shared experiences and exposure to a different environment.

For Fuentes, the trip carries deep personal meaning, adding another layer to the journey and a chance to share his roots and take his players to the very place where his love of soccer was planted.

“It’s emotional and really a full circle moment for me. I have been coaching most of the players since they were 7-years old. We are going to visit my hometown, my house and they get to meet my family,” he said.

He noted that for many of his players, the opportunity represents their first time traveling beyond the region.

“Most of these kids haven’t been outside of the Ohio Valley, much less the country,” he said. “This is an opportunity that goes beyond the sport of soccer. It’s a chance to see a different part of the world and experience another culture. I am excited to share that with my players.”

Drawing from his own journey, Fuentes underscored why the experience matters.

“Soccer has opened the door to give these kids a chance to travel. I am an immigrant. I moved to the U.S. but I also have traveled to Europe,” he said. “The chance to travel outside the U.S. to see the world is a wonderful experience because it allows you to see the world from a different perspective.”

For Olivier, that perspective speaks to something universal about the game itself.

“You know soccer has a way of bringing people together,” Oliver said. “It really is the world’s sport and through the sport of soccer, our players have this incredible opportunity.”