Copenhagen & Florida, 27th July 2026 – As investment in women’s soccer continues to accelerate around the world, sports technology company Veo and Girls Academy (GA) have today launched a new hero film following the journey of 13 year old, Girls Academy player Emily Bernachea, dubbed as ‘women’s soccer’s next superstar’. It explores how the next generation of female soccer players are being supported both on and off the pitch.
The two films are the latest chapter in the long-standing partnership between Veo and Girls Academy, one of the world’s largest female youth soccer development platforms, which supports more than 36,000 players across 233 clubs in the United States.
More than just a personal story, Emily’s journey reflects a much broader shift taking place across the women’s game.
While attendances, investment and media attention continue to reach record highs, Veo and Girls Academy believe the next challenge is ensuring every talented young player has the opportunity to be seen, developed and recognised.
Today, every Girls Academy home fixture is captured using Veo, with matches uploaded to the Veo League Exchange, giving coaches, players and scouts access to video analysis and performance insights that were once reserved for elite professional environments.
The result is a development pathway where visibility becomes opportunity. Whether it’s reviewing tactical performance, sharing highlights with college recruiters or helping players understand their own development, technology is becoming an essential part of modern player development.
The partnership extends beyond individual matches. At showcase events including the Girls Academy Champions Cup, Veo provides comprehensive video coverage across the tournament, ensuring every match is recorded and available for analysis. Across six days of competition featuring conference champions from across the country, every player has the opportunity to showcase their ability on one national platform.
Directed by Andreas Landgaard, the film follows Emily’s progression through Girls Academy, highlighting the commitment, resilience and support network behind every aspiring athlete. Despite her young age (13), the Florida United striker is already playing for the under 17s team and being touted as a top American youth prospect. It also reflects Girls Academy’s wider philosophy that developing elite soccer players means investing not only in technical ability, but in confident, resilient young women equipped to thrive throughout their lives. As women’s soccer enters a new era of growth, Veo and Girls Academy believe investment must extend beyond the professional game and into the pathways that develop tomorrow’s players. A second film titled ‘Mi querida nieta’ explores Emily’s relationship with her grandmother.
By combining elite coaching with AI-powered analysis and accessible performance technology, the partnership is helping create an environment where more young athletes can fulfil their potential.
Emily Bernachea, shared:
“Soccer has taught me so much about confidence, resilience and believing in myself. Knowing every game is captured means you can learn from every performance and share your journey with others. It’s exciting to know more girls will have those same opportunities thanks to Veo and the Girls Academy.”
Trish Hughes, Commissioner, Girls Academy commented:
“Women’s soccer has never had more momentum, but our responsibility is to make sure that momentum reaches every talented young player. Every girl deserves the opportunity to be seen, to learn and to grow. Emily’s story represents thousands of players across Girls Academy who are building towards their own futures, and we’re proud to partner with Veo to help make those journeys more visible than ever before.”
Cristina Stan, VP of Engineering at Veo added:
“We built Veo so that being seen and improving your performance doesn’t depend on where you play. The future of women’s soccer will be shaped long before players reach professional stadiums, in the places where they’re developing right now. Our job is to make sure every one of those players has the same access to video and analysis the elite game takes for granted, creating equal opportunities for performance and development for all.”
As the partnership continues, Veo and Girls Academy hope to encourage a broader conversation around the role technology can play in making soccer more accessible, more inclusive and more equitable for the next generation.
The organisations believe that as investment in women’s soccer continues to grow, equal investment in the infrastructure that supports player development, from coaching and analysis to scouting and visibility, will be equally important in shaping the future of the game.
