For many young footballers around the world, the dream is simple:
Play at the highest level possible. Keep developing. Create opportunities. Build a future through the game.
For Daniel Costa, that dream started in Brazil.
Growing up surrounded by football, Daniel spent his childhood immersed in a culture where the sport is part of everyday life. Weekends were filled with matches on television alongside his father and brother. Soon, watching became playing.
Like so many Brazilian kids, football quickly became more than just a hobby.
It became a dream.
Today, that dream has taken Daniel across the world. After two years at International Development Academy (IDA) Florida, the Brazilian center back has committed to continue his academic and athletic career at Houghton University in New York while earning a partial scholarship.
But when Daniel first arrived in the United States, college soccer was not even part of the plan.
Before joining IDA Florida, Daniel’s focus was simple: become a better player.
At the time, he knew very little about the American college pathway.
“Honestly, before IDA I didn’t really know much about college soccer or the opportunity to be a student-athlete in the USA,” Daniel explained.
What he did know was that he had always dreamed of living in the United States.
That dream eventually led him to IDA, where he discovered a pathway that would allow him to combine football, education, and personal development.
“What stood out to me about IDA Florida was the professional environment and the opportunity to develop both on and off the field,” he said.
Through its partnership with DME Academy, a nationally recognized academic and athletic institution, IDA Florida provides student-athletes with a structured environment that combines elite soccer development, accredited academics, and a proven pathway to collegiate opportunities.
For many international players, the first step is not simply finding a place to play.
It is finding an environment capable of turning ambition into a real plan.
Moving abroad at a young age is never easy.
New country. New language. New culture. New teammates.
For Daniel, adapting to life and football in Florida required patience, resilience, and maturity.
“My first impression was how organized and intense everything was,” he said. “The training sessions were very competitive, and the environment showed me that I needed to work very hard every day to improve.”
The game itself demanded adjustments.
Coming from Brazil, Daniel was used to a highly technical style of football. In the United States, he quickly learned that the speed and physicality of the game required him to evolve.
“The biggest challenge was adapting to the speed and physicality of the game,” he explained.
But some of the biggest lessons happened away from the field.
Living independently, managing responsibilities, and adapting to a completely different environment helped shape him into a more mature young adult.
“Moving to another country teaches you responsibility and how to adapt to new situations,” Daniel said.
Those experiences are a major part of what makes the IDA journey unique.
Players are not only challenged as athletes.
They are challenged as people.
For Daniel, daily exposure to high-level coaching and competition became one of the most important factors in his development.
At IDA Florida, players train and study within the DME Academy environment, where student-athletes are challenged to excel both academically and athletically. Together, IDA and DME create an experience designed to prepare players for the next level of competition while developing the discipline, independence, and habits required for long-term success.
Every training session pushed him to improve.
Every day demanded consistency.
“The coaches always pushed me to improve, and training every day with talented players created an environment where you had to give your best consistently.”
Over time, he began to see significant growth not only tactically and technically, but mentally.
The confidence he developed through training, competition, and daily life at IDA helped prepare him for opportunities beyond the academy environment.
Eventually, conversations with coaches started changing the way he viewed his future.
“The opportunity to play college soccer became real when coaches started telling me that I had the talent and potential to play at the college level.”
What once felt distant was suddenly becoming possible.
As Daniel continued progressing, the recruitment process eventually led him to Houghton University.
Through the support network around him, including people who helped guide him throughout his time at IDA Florida, he was able to connect with college coaches and explore opportunities that aligned with both his academic and athletic goals.
The result was a partial scholarship opportunity and a chance to continue building his future in the United States.
But for Daniel, choosing Houghton was about more than soccer.
After visiting campus, meeting the coaching staff, and experiencing the environment firsthand, he felt something deeper.
“When I visited the campus, I felt in my heart that God was showing me that it was the right place for me.”
That feeling, combined with the university’s culture and soccer program, helped confirm that he had found the right next step.
Daniel’s story is not simply about receiving a college opportunity. It is about what became possible once he stepped outside of his comfort zone.
A young player from Brazil arrived in Florida looking for development. Two years later, he leaves with a university commitment, scholarship support, international experience, lifelong friendships, and a clearer vision for his future.
Looking back, he knows exactly how important that journey was.
“My time at IDA was extremely important in helping me reach this point,” Daniel reflected. “It prepared me for the next level not only as a football player, but also as a student and as a person.”
For players considering a similar path, his advice is simple:
“Stay patient, work hard every day, and be willing to step outside your comfort zone. Most importantly, trust in God and trust the process. Moving abroad and chasing your dreams is not always easy, but if you stay committed and keep believing, the experience can change your life both on and off the field.”
At IDA, stories like Daniel’s are exactly what the pathway is built for: helping ambitious players discover opportunities they never knew existed, develop in a professional environment, and take meaningful steps toward their future – both on and off the field.
From Brazil to Houghton University, Daniel’s journey is a reminder that big dreams become possible when talent meets opportunity.
Applications remain open for IDA Residency Programs for the 2026/27 season, helping ambitious players from around the world develop their game, gain exposure, and pursue pathways to college soccer, professional football, and international education. Summer experiences are also available across Spain, Italy, the UK, Brazil, and the United States.
Your story could be next. Register now.
Still have questions? Want to learn more? Fill out the form below to connect with an IDA representative. We look forward to hearing from you!