Sabrina Araujo-Elorza, a native of Pembroke Pines, recently achieved a major milestone in her soccer career by representing Venezuela at the U20 Women’s Soccer World Cup in Colombia. Her journey, rooted in a deep love for the sport, began at the young age of four when she started playing in recreational leagues. By age seven, Sabrina had transitioned to competitive soccer, quickly demonstrating her potential in tournaments across Florida and the U.S.
Her passion and dedication to soccer only grew stronger when she joined the Weston Academy, after the launch of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy program. There, she honed her skills while competing at the highest youth levels. She later joined the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), where her performances stood out not only on the field but off as well. Throughout her education at Pembroke Pines Charter School, Sabrina maintained a flawless academic record and captained both the middle and high school soccer teams. In August 2022, Sabrina committed to playing collegiate soccer at Northeastern University in Boston, balancing her academic excellence with her athletic pursuits.
The past few years have brought Sabrina not only great opportunities but also significant challenges. In 2021, her international career took off when she represented the U.S. Olympic Development Program in Costa Rica, competing against local teams. That same year, the Venezuelan National Soccer Federation held recruitment trials in South Florida as part of a global scouting initiative. Both Sabrina and her sister Alai were selected for the U20 Venezuelan team, marking the beginning of their international careers.
Sabrina’s first major tournament for Venezuela came in April 2022, when she competed in the South American World Cup qualifiers in Chile. Her success continued as she won a gold medal with the U20 team at the Pan-American Games in Paraguay. Later that year, she made her debut with the Senior National Team, playing against Brazil at the Copa America in Colombia. She also competed against Argentina’s senior team and earned a silver medal at the Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador.
However, Sabrina’s journey hasn’t been without setbacks. A year and a half after being selected for the Venezuelan National Team, she suffered a serious injury that required a year-long recovery. Despite the physical and emotional challenges, Sabrina’s resilience never wavered. By September 2024, she had fully recovered and returned to the field for the U20 World Cup in Colombia, where she played every minute of Venezuela’s three games. Her standout performance, including being named Player of the Match in a game against South Korea, solidified her place as one of the team’s key players.
Sabrina’s story is one of perseverance, grit, and triumph. Her dedication to both her sport and her academic achievements has inspired not only her local community in Pembroke Pines but also soccer fans worldwide.
