The ONB Easter Camp 2026 — A New Standard for Youth Football
More than 100 players showed up. Every single one of them left better than they arrived.
The Olympique National Beirut Easter Camp 2026 ran from 2 to 11 April at Hazmieh Municipal Field — nine days of structured football development under the FC Barcelona methodology, led by Technical Director Coach Paco Araujo. What unfolded over those nine days was more than a camp. It was proof that Lebanese youth football can be developed at the highest standard, right here in Beirut.
What Happened on the Field
Every day followed the same structured format — three training periods running from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The first period opened with a perceptual-cognitive game designed to activate decision-making before any technical work began. The second period rotated players through four stations — technical coordination circuits, 2v2 small-sided games, 1v1 duels, and tactical superiority drills — each lasting 45 minutes. The third period closed every day with a normal match, giving players the opportunity to apply everything they had worked on in a real game environment.
Over nine days, players were exposed to the full range of the FC Barcelona methodology — positional play, ball-oriented defense, progressive overload, and the rondo system that has been a cornerstone of La Masia training from the youngest age groups upward.
Individual Assessment
Every player was individually assessed by Coach Paco Araujo across technical, tactical, physical, and cognitive dimensions throughout the camp. The evaluation covered technical circuits, 1v1 and 2v2 performance, cognitive game awareness, fitness indicators, and personality attributes including attitude, discipline, and self-confidence.
At the end of the camp, every player received a personal report card — a written individual assessment signed by Coach Paco Araujo documenting their performance across every dimension evaluated during the nine days.
The Closing Ceremony
The final day of the camp culminated in a closing ceremony that brought players, coaches, and families together. Players competed in a final competition day before receiving their medals and certificates in a formal ceremony. Every player was recognized for their effort and development throughout the camp. The atmosphere reflected exactly what ONB was built to create — a serious development environment that also celebrates the players inside it.
What It Means
Over 100 players. Nine days. One methodology. One standard.
The ONB Easter Camp 2026 demonstrated that what ONB is building in Lebanon is real — not aspirational, not theoretical, but operational. Lebanese players have access to a development system that mirrors the standards of the best academies in Europe, delivered by a coach who lived and worked inside that system at FC Barcelona and La Masia.
The summer is next. And the level is only going up.