The New Jersey team had spent months preparing for the overseas trip, organized by GoPlay Sports, which was expected to strengthen the players' close bond.
"I was really excited for this opportunity to go and see new teams I've never seen, go play soccer with other people overseas, and stay in London. It was just going to be a really cool experience," said Owen Maskell, 13.
But Maskell spoke about the trip in the past tense after the company notified the club that it was shutting down. According to the email sent to families, the company blamed its financial troubles on the situation in the Middle East.
"It was brutal. I read the email, I was like, 'Holy cow.' They took all this money and ripped away, kind of like a dream," Maskell said.
Parents say the notification came after months of planning and payments totaling thousands of dollars. Nikki Maskell said she paid $6,800 for her son's trip and has not received any reimbursement.
"At first, it didn't even seem real. We couldn't get a hold of anyone. Go Play shut down their website, and all ways of communicating with us," she said.
The station reached out to the company's CEO, Brian Ainscough, who said he could not shed light on the financial situation because that was not his role.
In a written statement, he said, "I am shocked at what has happened and still do not understand it. I continue to explore all avenues to try to support clubs impacted by the sudden closure of the company."
Joe Arone, the coach of the Rancocoas Valley soccer club, questioned why the company continued accepting payments shortly before canceling the trips.
"If you knew you were going under, why take a payment on April 1?" he said.
Arone said he feels responsible for the families' losses, totaling about $80,000, and is seeking ways to help recover the money.
"I just feel I let them down. And that kills me. These kids are everything to me," he said.
Some families have contacted the Massachusetts attorney general's office, where the company is based, but say they have not had any success. In the meantime, they are raising money through a GoFundMe page in an attempt to salvage a trip for the team.