Global age-group tournaments may provide youngsters a chance to represent their country.
Many will realise their ambitions in the U-17 World Cup in India.
Amalia Villarreal has a tale to share and may make more in India in October.
When she was 7, she drew herself in a national football team shirt with a gold medal.
Ten years later, she realised her ambition by helping the USA qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
She scored eight goals for her side, including five in a 13-0 thumping of Puerto Rico – a USA record for most goals scored in a youth game.