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Chandigarh July 18
Minerva Academy scripted history by winning the prestigious Gothia Cup 2026, also known as the World Youth Cup, after defeating Brazilian side RS Sports 2-1 in the final played in Sweden on Saturday. The victory marks another major international triumph for the Chandigarh-based academy, which recently won the Helsinki Cup in Finland.
Minerva made a bright start to the title clash and took the lead in the 10th minute when T. Kipgen finished clinically from inside the penalty area. The Brazilian side responded before the break, restoring parity to send the teams into halftime locked at 1-1.
The second half saw both teams battle for control, with Minerva’s disciplined midfield and resolute defense frustrating the Brazilian attack. The decisive moment came in the 49th minute when Nongrem capitalized on a swift attacking move and calmly slotted home the winning goal, giving the Indian side a 2-1 lead.
Minerva successfully held off late pressure from RS Sports before the final whistle confirmed their historic triumph, sparking celebrations among players and coaching staff.
The academy enjoyed a dominant campaign throughout the tournament, winning all eight of its matches to remain unbeaten. Minerva scored an impressive 86 goals while conceding only seven, underlining its superiority against leading youth teams from countries including Brazil, France and Bolivia.
The Gothia Cup title adds another milestone to Minerva Academy’s growing reputation in international youth football and highlights the increasing strength of Indian grassroots football on the global stage.
The North News
