Another golden chapter has been added to the history of Indian football. Proving their supremacy on the international stage, India’s Minerva Academy FC has won the prestigious Gothia Cup 2026 (known as the World Youth Cup) held in Sweden. Competing in the B12 category, they literally blew away European and Latin American teams to claim this championship in their name.
In the words of the club on social media— “This is The Factory. This is history.” Let’s find out the complete statistics and the story of their incredible journey to this historic victory.
1. Breathtaking Victory in the Final
Right from the beginning of the tournament, Minerva Academy caught everyone’s attention with their attacking football. In the grand final, their opponent was the strong ‘RS Sports Yellow’. In a highly competitive match, the young warriors of Minerva won by 2-1 goals and lifted the Gothia Cup 2026 title. Notably, they have also set a unique record as the only Indian team to win a match in the Gothia Cup under standard football rules.
2. Flooding Opponents with Goals in the Knockout Phase
Before reaching the final, Minerva Academy’s performance was simply incredible. The margins by which they won in the knockout rounds are truly rare in international youth football:
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Pre-Quarter Final (17-1 Win): Minerva won by a massive margin of 17-1 goals against the strong French club ‘OFC Couronnes’. Ngamba and Nongrem scored brilliant hat-tricks in this match.
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Round of 32 (10-1 Win): The Indian team defeated the English club ‘Prep School Lions Purple’ 10-1. Paikhomba and Wangshem scored hat-tricks in this match.
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Quarter Final (8-0 Win): Minerva defeated Bolivia’s ‘Cancheritos Football Club’ 8-0 in a one-sided match. The excellent finishing of T. Kipgen, Donald, and Haokip took the team to the semi-finals.
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In another match, they crushed England’s ‘Prep Schools Pumas Blue’ 12-0, where T. Kipgen alone scored 6 goals.
By scoring a total of 27 goals in just two knockout matches, Minerva surprised the entire football world.
3. Double Crown: Helsinki Cup and Gothia Cup
Not just the Gothia Cup, just before this tournament, Minerva Academy had also won the Helsinki Cup 2026 held in Finland. By defeating Finland’s famous team ‘HJK U12’ 1-0 in the final, they made history as the first Indian team to win this tournament. They successfully maintained that winning momentum from the Helsinki Cup in the Gothia Cup as well.
4. The Future Stars of Indian Football
Minerva’s success proves that with the right infrastructure and training, Indian footballers can also rule the world stage. The phenomenal performances of players like Paikhomba, Wangshem, T. Kipgen, and Haokip indicate a bright future for Indian football. The boundless joy of the young players and their proud posture holding the Indian flag in the pictures shared by the club on social media have won the hearts of millions of Indian football fans.
Conclusion: This huge achievement of Indian football on the world stage is not a mere accident, but the result of hard work and proper planning. Minerva Academy FC has proven that they are truly “The Factory” of Indian football. Every sports lover in the country expects these young talents to become the backbone of the Indian national team in the future.
Minerva Academy FC vs FC Lokomotyv Kyiv Semi Final To witness the extraordinary on-field skills and playing style of the young players of Minerva Academy during the semi-final of this tournament, you can watch the video above.