South Carolina United FC players recently participated in SCUFC’s 18th annual German Exchange program. Each year, up to16 South Carolina United FC players are chosen to participate in a cultural soccer exchange program with German student-athletes. In mid-October, German players from 1.FFC Montabaur arrived in the U.S. and stayed with their SCUFC hosts for 10 days.  During their stay in Columbia, S.C., the German student-athletes visited the S.C. State House, the S.C. State Museum, attended a South Carolina “American” football game, took a trip to the beach, and even went to school with their U.S. host family. At the conclusion of their stay, the German athletes competed in the annual Sir Alfred’s Cup Match against our SCUFC athletes.

In July, our SCUFC players will in turn travel to Montabaur, Germany for a 10 day stay with the German student-athlete host families.  While in Germany, our players will not only play soccer, but will also learn much about German cuisine and culture while staying with their host family and visiting many historical German sites.

To date, SCUFC has exchanged nearly 800 South Carolina and German players, coaches, and parents. These exchanges involve both soccer experiences and cultural/tourism experiences.  The purpose is to create cultural understanding and friendships through the common bond of youth soccer.  Many participants develop relationships that last a lifetime and arrange future visits between players and families.

South Carolina United FC is proud to recognize the following 2022 German exchange program participants: Lilly Anne Stokes (AC Flora), Ella Yarborough (River Bluff), Greylyn Rentz (AC Flora), Emma Price (AC Flora), Kylie Powell (Chapin), Elle Brewer (Hammond), Lila Bowers (Chapin), Katherine Haigler (Chapin), Grace Benson (Chapin), Kylie Taylor (Chapin), Adriana Dunat (Lexington), and Raeghan Lawson (River Bluff).