India's Minerva Academy defend World Youth Cup, complete European double

Days after conquering the Helsinki Cup, Minerva Academy retained the Gothia Cup by edging Brazilian side RS Sports Yellow 2-1 in another historic triumph.Minerva defend World Youth Cup. (Photo: Instagram)India’s Minerva Academy Under-12 boys have added another major international title to their growing collection, successfully defending the Gothia Cup after beating Brazilian side RS Sports Yellow 2-1 in a gripping final. The triumph comes less than a week after the Chandigarh-based academy finally got their hands on the Helsinki Cup, capping another memorable European tour.If the Helsinki Cup win ended unfinished business from last year, the Gothia Cup was about proving they belonged at the top. Against another strong international field, Minerva once again showed why they have become one of the most respected youth academies outside Europe.Kipgen Thangsanglen gave Minerva the lead before Mekhamkhraw Nongrem restored their advantage with a superbly struck free-kick after the Brazilian side had levelled. The youngsters then held firm to secure a second successive Gothia Cup crown.The latest success continues a remarkable run for the academy, which has spent the past two summers making headlines across Europe with a string of dominant performances and trophy-winning campaigns. MINERVA'S WORLD YOUTH CUP RUNMinerva barely slowed down throughout the tournament, scoring freely from the group stage before overcoming their toughest challenge in the knockout rounds.Group Stage Beat Prep Schools Pumas Blue (England) 12-0Beat Lillestrom SK 3 (Norway) 13-1Beat Surte IS FK (Sweden) 16-0Round of 64Beat Legacy Academy (Kenya) 6-2Round of 32Beat Prep Schools Lions (England) 10-1Round of 16Beat OFC Couronnes (France) 17-1Quarter-finalBeat Cancheritos FC (Bolivia) 8-0Semi-finalBeat FC Lokomotyv Kyiv (Ukraine) 3-2FinalBeat RS Sports Yellow (Brazil) 2-1The only real scare came in the semi-finals against FC Lokomotyv Kyiv, but Minerva found another gear when it mattered most before finishing the job against Brazilian opposition in the title clash. Photo: Minvera/Instagram EUROPEAN DOMINANCE CONTINUESThe Gothia Cup title carries extra significance because Minerva arrived in Sweden as defending champions.Rather than being weighed down by that expectation, they embraced it. The academy retained one of the world’s biggest youth football trophies only days after finally conquering the Helsinki Cup, where they had fallen short in last year’s final.The back-to-back titles add to an extraordinary spell in Europe that already includes triumphs at the Norway Cup and Dana Cup, while their 6-0 victory over Liverpool’s Under-15 side at the Mediterranean International Cup earlier this year underlined the level this group has consistently reached.What once looked like isolated upsets are now becoming a pattern. Wherever Minerva have travelled in Europe over the past two years, they have returned with performances—and increasingly trophies—that continue to raise the bar for Indian youth football.- EndsPublished By: Kingshuk KusariPublished On: Jul 18, 2026 17:24 IST