Real Madrid to Practice Privately at UCLA This Week

The World Cup might be over, but soccer fever will persist for at least one more week on the Westside, as Real Madrid will spend the next seven days holding private practices at the UCLA campus in Westwood.

It is for the fifth consecutive year Real Madrid is using UCLA’s facilities to train, with the Spanish soccer club holding its private practices at the Westwood campus from July 22 to July 28, according to the school. The training sessions will reportedly take place at the North Athletic Field.

As the practices are private, fans and members of the public are not allowed to participate or observe.

According to UCLA, the soccer club is taking part in preseason training and will play in several matches this week and next as part of the Guinness International Champions Cup.

Though its practices are here on the Westside, Real Madrid will be playing in matches on Northern California, North Texas, and Michigan.

Specifically, Real Madrid is scheduled to travel to California Memorial Stadium on the campus of UC Berkeley on July 26 to face Italy’s Inter Milan, followed by a July 29 match versus Roma at Dallas’ Cotton Bowl. Finally, the English club Manchester United will take on Real Madrid at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Aug. 2.

While the practices are private, fans and members of the public will still be afforded opportunities to interact with Real Madrid players, as the club will reportedly have limited autograph sessions before and after training at Wilson Plaza, which is strategically located between the player locker room and North Athletic Field.

Formally known as Real Madrid C.F. (or Real Madrid Club de Futbol), the professional soccer club was founded in 1902 and is one of Europe’s most dominant powerhouses with at least 62 championships within Spain, a record 10 European Cup wins, and three Intercontinental Cups.

Real Madrid’s most recent championship was claimed earlier this year, when it won the European Cup (UEFA Champions League).