“Our trip to Copenhagen, Denmark and the Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden has provided memories for a lifetime. WorldStrides was phenomenal to work with. They were very organized and helped us prepare for the trip every step of the way”, said Girls ECNL Regional League & USL W League Head Coach Erika Duncan. “Once the trip began, we had the full support of our 24/7 tour guide, David. He had every detail covered from dinner to tram times to laundry which allowed us to focus on soccer and enjoying a new country and new friends. We competed against top teams and players from Sweden and Norway and met hundreds of other players/coaches from all around the world. When we weren’t competing, we had the opportunity to explore Copenhagen and Gothenburg, went on a boat tour and took the team for a fun day to an amusement park. From start to finish the experience was amazing, and I will be forever grateful for the time I got to spend with these Independence players and families on this trip”.

July 17

They had a fun night of team bonding at the Moxy hotel in Munich, enjoyed new cuisine, and a team walk with fun ice-breaker activities. Once the group landed in Copenhagen, Denmark after a long day of travel and they connected with the WorldStrides Tour Guide, David, and a few other families who traveled ahead. The Radison Blu Copenhagen Hotel (top rated in the city) was their home for the night, with rooms overlooking the downtown and waterfront. The team went to dinner with a buffet of traditional food (lots of salads, fish, and potatoes) at the Hereford Village Restaurant and ended up at a local gelato shop for dessert. Once finished, everyone walked through the historic architecture, seeing things like City Hall Square and the beautiful gardens. In the morning, the team traveled via bus to Gothenburg, Sweden, and checked into the hotel. The hotel is a sports conference center, so there was an indoor turf stadium, a ski-dome, and 24 fields around the complex, in addition to several walking trails and sand volleyball courts. Once checked in, Ana and Erika ran a training session using the indoor facility, prior to heading into the city center to explore the harbor and shopping district. Each night, the hotel provided a cooked dinner, and the team meetings were a fun way for parents and players to engage and get to know one another. Throughout the week, Independence traveled on metros and busses to play at three different venues in the City. The Gothia Cup tournament hosted over 71 different countries, with over 40 different complexes across the city. The whole public transit system was available for participants and families to use through the event, which was a fun experience to map out the route to games and connect on different methods of transportation. 

July 18

The first match was against IFK Ostersund, where the players from CISC faced off against a U16 player from the Swedish National Team. Despite the difference in age groups (the team had girls from 4 different age groups and 10 different teams), the players worked well together and walked off the field with a 1-0 win, earning 3 points in group play. After the early game, players and families explored Gothenburg and then prepared for Opening Ceremonies at the city center. At opening ceremonies, over 50,000 people were in attendance from across the world. Each nation had a team walk out and players/fans/families were able to see and experience different cultures, but one universal theme of competition and love for a game. There was entertainment by local dancers, singers, and a firework show to complete the evening.

July 19

THe group was able to rest and walk downstairs to play their second match in the comfort of the hotel (indoor turf stadium!). A much larger field caused some problems for our new-to-each-other group, and Jitex BX (Swedish team) walked away with a 2-0 win, despite a tough fight from the Independence. In the evening, the leaders and coaches were all invited to a Leaders’ Social, where over 2,500 coaches and trip leaders gathered for a meal and entertainment. The mayor of Gothenburg was present, and it was a great evening of networking and making new friends across the globe.  

July 20 

It was a leisurely start to the day, as the players and families enjoyed a continental breakfast (daily treat at the hotel) of traditional meats and cheeses, crepes, pancakes, eggs, and trays of pastries. After breakfast, the team went on a canal tour downtown and had lunch in the city before heading on the metro for the third game of group play. To advance to the top level for playoffs, the Independence needed a win or tie. Coach Erika and Ana didn’t know what to expect going into the event, playing internationally against U17s, but after the first two competitive matches, they were eager to compete for top seed in playoffs and the players were confident going into each game. Facing a tough and physical Norwegian team, the game resulted in a 0-0 tie, against Avaldsnes IL, placing the Independence in second place of group play, advancing through to the Bracket A playoff round.  

July 21 

was a trek across Gothenburg, taking a bus and metro across the city to arrive at the first round of playoffs. With an unfortunate red-card in the last group play game and some injuries, subs were limited, and IK Sturehov (Sweden) team knocked Independence out 2-0. After four straight games, the girls were ready to relax and enjoy time with their new international friends at the hotel complex. To enjoy the rest of their time in Sweden, the girls ventured out to the Lesiburg amusement park on July 22, which is one of the top-rated amusement parks in the world! The players loved the rides and bringing home giant boxes of chocolate as prizes. That evening (early morning!) was the start of the USWNT World Cup journey, and several players were up at 3am to support the team across the world.  

"Sweden was an incredible experience. We had amazing tour guides who showed us all the beautiful places and had the ability to grab pictures to send to our parents," said Girls ECNL Academy Goalkeeper Elizabeth Navola. "Throughout the trip, I met so many people, made memories, took in the beautiful scenery, and best of all, I had the opportunity to play soccer. I can't forget our amazing coaches Ana and Erika who traveled with us making sure everything ran smoothly. If you are deciding if International Travel is something you should do, take the leap. The amount of fun our team had is something I will remember forever."

July 22

The group headed back to Denmark, checking back in at Copenhagen and headed to Lyngby Stadium for special VIP treatment as Lyngby FC hosted Fc Kobenhavn (Copenhagen). Lyngby FC was first founded in 1906, but was disbanded in 1915 and restarted in 1921. The teams play in the Danish SuperLiga and F Copenhagen has roots tracing back to foundations in 1876. The environment was incredible, with support from the fans during the full game – a private viewing area and barbecue presented to the group, meeting the mascots, engaging with players, and watching a competitive match (final score was 2-1 Copenhagen). After the game, the group headed back to the hotel in preparation for the long journey home. Amazingly enough, after a connecting flight in Munich and flight across the Atlantic, everyone made it home safe and sound with high spirits and all luggage with plenty of memories and pictures to share with stories and experiences of a lifetime. The group that started as strangers a few months ago, left the airport with hugs and promises of supporting each other on the field and getting together for a trip ‘reunion’ in weeks to come. The trip was an unforgettable experience and one that we hope you would enjoy with us in the years to come!

“Working with the team and Erika was the highlight of my summer - traveling to a new country and seeing the same love and passion for a game shared across different cultures was incredible to see”, said Director of South Operations Ana Holz. “Our girls were able to see so many different levels of the game, meet other players from different countries, and experience the beauty of a new country while playing a sport we love. The group of parents who traveled with us were supportive and positive, and I've already connected with many families out at the field."