With the presence of Governor Mara Lezama, the Real Madrid Foundation and Grupo Piñero ratified a strategic alliance and announced the opening of a football school in the State.
“The Real Madrid Foundation has its home in Tulum, welcome. In Quintana Roo, we undoubtedly believe in the transformative power of sport to strengthen the social fabric,” said Mara Lezama.
This project aims to offer Quintana Roo youth opportunities to achieve their dreams, through values such as teamwork, respect and social inclusion, in line with the principles of the New Agreement for the Well-being and Development of Quintana Roo.
Present at the event were Encarna Piñero, CEO of Grupo Piñero, Álvaro Moya, General Manager of Grupo Piñero México, and Álvaro Arbeloa, former player of the club and ambassador of the Real Madrid Foundation. The Governor was accompanied by the Secretary of Tourism, Bernardo Cueto Riestra; and the director of the Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion Council (CPTQ), Andrés Martínez.
This agreement includes the creation of a soccer school at the German International School in Tulum Country Club. “The alliance will offer scholarships to young people in vulnerable situations from various communities in our state. Likewise, Grupo Piñero is working on the first women's soccer league with the purpose of promoting equal opportunities,” said the governor at the beginning of the work tour within the framework of FITUR 2025.
“We want to facilitate the development of this passion and we want to instil the principles that drive this team sport. We are clear that the promotion of education, health, social inclusion and sport is a shared commitment in this alliance,” said Encarna Piñero, CEO of Grupo Piñero during the signing of the agreement.
In the words of former club player and Real Madrid Foundation ambassador, Álvaro Arbeloa, “this is a project that has proven to be a true tool for transformation through sport for young people in the communities of Quintana Roo.” He explained that the program has 105 participants in Tulum, of which 15% are women, and they hope to end up with 150 registered participants at the end of this season.
In addition, he announced that, in April of this year, “three teams from the program will represent Tulum in the Real Madrid Foundation World Challenge 2025, an international event that will provide participants with a unique learning and camaraderie experience.”
The agreement has granted full scholarships to 10% of the children participating in the program. Now, the goal will be for between 20% and 30% of young people to receive these scholarships in the 2025-2026 season.
In addition, the program will be a reference point, serving as an example for other states in Mexico and Latin America on the power of sport to strengthen the social fabric.
Source: Government of the State of Quito Roo.