Minerva Academy FC's 6-0 Victory Over Liverpool FC U-15 Resurfaces Amid Debate Over India's World Cup Future
India’s junior club Minerva Academy FC thrashed Liverpool FC’s U-15 team by six goals to nil (6-0) in a historical match during the Round of 16 at the prestigious Mediterranean International Cup (MIC Cup) in Spain in April this year. The MIC Cup is one of the most prestigious youth tournaments in world football, held annually in Spain’s Costa Brava region, with elite participants such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Manchester United and Liverpool.
The Minerva Academy side, representing India, dominated the English giants, with outstanding performances including a hat-trick from Raj Singh, a brace by Mohammad Azam Khan, and a goal from Lisham Amarson Singh.
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Notably, the victory over the English football giants has resurfaced online as the world is celebrating the FIFA World Cup 2026, when Indian football is still struggling to find a place in the tournament since its inception. Amid the uncertainty and structural issues of the Indian football team, a ray of hope has found its place in Spain, giving some reason to believe that Indian football is quietly taking shape.
In a 50-minute match, the Indian club outplayed Liverpool with a level of clarity, structure and confidence rarely associated with Indian teams on the global stage. Notably, this match is just the consistency for Minerva as its team was made up of the same core that had already taken Europe by storm at the U-14 level, winning the Gothia Cup, Dana Cup and Norway Cup in 2025.
It is one of the major hopes for the Indians that Minerva’s youth teams consistently challenge and beat top academies across Europe. As such, matches produce the best future players and teams. The academy has shown that the Indian team can compete with the very best in the world.
Another factor to remember and recognise is Minerva’s efforts and investment in identifying young talent, trusting the process and refusing to lower standards. Despite not having a government project or a billion-dollar supported system, Minerva’s achievement, built by the vision of Ranjit Bajaj, shows that Indian football doesn’t lack talent, but the people and administration who are willing to invest in that talent for years without expecting instant results.
Notably, with little to no government or official federation backing, founder and coach Ranjit Bajaj had to raise ₹45 lakh through crowdfunding campaigns. He also reportedly took out personal loans amounting to over Rs 2 crore and mortgaged his own assets to ensure the team could travel to the historic match in Spain where their U-15 team famously defeated Liverpool FC 6-0.
