Story by ATV | Posted by Aasha Khosa | Date 15-07-2026
Minerva Football FC team with the Helsinki Cup
While much of the world is engrossed in the high-voltage FIFA World Cup, a group of young Indian footballers from Chandigarh’s Minerva Academy FC has quietly scripted history. Continuing their remarkable winning streak, the boys lifted the prestigious 2026 Helsinki Cup, sending a strong message that Indian football’s future is brighter than ever.Minerva clinched the title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over tournament hosts –Finland – and defending champions HJK.
The club, founded in Chandigarh and nurtured by the resolve and hard work of Founder-coach Ranjit Bajaj, has become the first Indian team to win the 2026 Helsinki Cup.
Minerva Academy has risen as a Football team to reckon with on the global stage as it stunned European Football by thrashing Liverpool FC’s U-15 side 6-0 in the Round of 16 of the prestigious Mediterranean International Cup (MIC) in Spain.
That followed a historic 2025 campaign in which Minerva became the first Indian side to win the Norway Cup, scoring an incredible 130 goals in just eight matches before sealing the title with a 14-1 victory in the final.
Champions of Helsinki. Champions at Heart. 🏆💙
From the first whistle to the final celebration, this journey was built on belief, unity, and an unwavering desire to win.
One team. One family. One unforgettable triumph.
Helsinki Cup 2026 Champions. 🇮🇳#MAFC#TheFactory… pic.twitter.com/a2nYsQEdkZ
— Minerva Academy Football Club (@minervapunjabfc) July 13, 2026
They also lifted the Dana Cup in Denmark, becoming the first Indian team in 43 years to win the tournament after a record-breaking 15-0 triumph in the final.
For the Chandigarh-based academy, making headlines on the European stage has become something of a tradition. Over the past two years, Minerva have consistently broken new ground for Indian football, and the Helsinki Cup triumph is yet another milestone in an extraordinary journey.
Twelve months earlier, Minerva had become the first Indian team to reach the Helsinki Cup final, scoring 42 goals without conceding a single one before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to PK-35. Returning to Finland with unfinished business, they ensured history would not repeat itself, emerging champions.
The Indian stars dominated the tournament from start to finish, scoring more than 50 goals while barely giving their opponents a glimpse of goal.
Their campaign began with a commanding 6-1 victory over FC Valtti before they dismantled Helsingin Palloseura 9-1 and crushed EBK 11-0. The knockout stages brought more one-sided contests as Minerva thrashed Helsingin Ponnistus 19-0 in the Round of 32 before progressing to the Round of 16
🏆 CHAMPIONS!
🇮🇳 Minerva Academy FC 1️⃣–0️⃣ HJK 🇫🇮
Helsinki Cup 2026 belongs to Minerva Academy FC. 💙
Against the two time champions and defending title holders, our young warriors delivered a performance defined by courage, discipline, and belief.#MAFC#TheFactory… pic.twitter.com/FPG54P70j0
— Minerva Academy Football Club (@minervapunjabfc) July 13, 2026
In the quarter-finals, Minerva demolished HJK 6-0 and followed it up with another emphatic display, routing Käpylan Pallo 9-0 in the semi-finals before edging defending champions HJK 1-0 in the title clash.
Several players emerged as stars during the tournament. T. Kipgen’s six-goal performance against EBK was among the highlights of the competition, while Yohenba delivered consistently, scoring a hat-trick against EBK and netting the opening goal in the 6-0 quarter-final victory over HJK. Rimoson added a hat-trick against FC Kasiysi and maintained his scoring touch in the knockout rounds, while Haokip, Nongdren, Paikhomba, Wangshem and Donald all made significant contributions.
With the Helsinki Cup now added to their growing collection of European titles, Minerva will now head to Sweden for the Gothia Cup – widely regarded as the World Youth Cup – where they will attempt to add yet another prestigious European title to an already historic run.
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