Minerva Academy FC completed a memorable European campaign in July 2026, winning two major youth football tournaments within seven days. The Chandigarh-based academy first lifted the Helsinki Cup in Finland on July 11, defeating defending champions HJK Helsinki 1-0 in the final. A week later, its Under-12 side retained the Gothia Cup in Sweden, beating Brazil’s RS Sports Yellow 2-1 in the final on July 18.
The two titles added to Minerva Academy’s growing record in European youth football. The Gothia Cup victory was particularly notable for the team’s tournament numbers: Minerva won all nine of its matches in the Boys 12 category and scored 87 goals, the highest total recorded by any team at the 2026 tournament.
Minerva Academy Wins Helsinki Cup 2026
Minerva’s first title of the month came in Helsinki, where the academy faced HJK in the final. The Finnish side had already beaten Minerva during the group stage, but the Indian team turned the result around in the knockout rounds, defeating HJK 6-0 in the quarter-final before meeting them again in the title match.
The final remained goalless until the 37th minute. Rimoson broke the deadlock with the only goal of the match, and Minerva’s defence held HJK at bay for the remainder of the contest to secure a 1-0 victory. The result gave Minerva its first Helsinki Cup title after the academy had finished runners-up in 2025, when it lost the final 1-0 to PK-35.
Minerva had also produced several big results on its route to the trophy. The campaign included wins over FC Valtti (6-1), Helsingin Palloseura (9-1), EBK (11-0), Helsingin Ponnistus (19-0), HJK (6-0) and Käpylän Pallo (9-0). The academy also progressed through the Round of 16 via a walkover against Makati FC.
Several Minerva players also made an impact during the campaign. T. Kipgen scored six goals against EBK, while Yohenba scored a hat-trick in that match and later opened the scoring against HJK in the quarter-final. Rimoson also scored a hat-trick against FC Kasiysi during the tournament.
| Helsinki Cup 2026 | Result |
| FC Valtti | 6-1 |
| Helsingin Palloseura | 9-1 |
| EBK | 11-0 |
| Helsingin Ponnistus | 19-0 |
| Makati FC | Walkover |
| HJK Helsinki, quarter-final | 6-0 |
| Käpylän Pallo, semi-final | 9-0 |
| HJK Helsinki, final | 1-0 |
Minerva Academy Retains Gothia Cup Title
Minerva then travelled to Gothenburg for the Gothia Cup 2026, one of the world’s largest international youth football tournaments. The academy competed in the Boys 12 category, which had 153 teams from 32 countries. Minerva topped Group 27 to qualify for the A Playoff and ultimately won every match it played.
The official tournament records show that Minerva finished the competition with nine wins, 87 goals and an average of 9.6 goals per game. Its 87-goal tally was the highest of any team at the 2026 Gothia Cup.
Minerva’s group-stage results included a 12-0 win over Prep Schools Pumas Blue, a 13-1 victory against Lillestrøm SK 3 and a 16-0 win over Surte IS FK. The team continued its run in the knockout rounds, including a 6-2 win over Kenya’s Legacy Academy, a 10-1 victory against Prep Schools Lions Purple, a 17-1 win over OFC Couronnes and an 8-0 quarter-final victory over Cancheritos FC. In the semi-final, Minerva edged Ukraine’s FC Lokomotyv Kyiv 3-2 to reach the final.
Minerva Beats Brazil in Gothia Cup Final
The final against RS Sports Yellow was considerably closer than many of Minerva’s earlier matches. The Indian side scored first after about 10 minutes, but Brazil’s number 99 equalised before half-time. The teams remained level through most of the second half before Mekhamkhraw Nongrem scored the decisive goal with only two minutes remaining. Minerva held on to win 2-1 and retain the Gothia Cup title.
Thangsanglen Kipgen, who was named the match’s MVP, was also involved in the final and was part of the team that secured the title in front of a large crowd at Heden 5 Nordic Wellness. The victory made Minerva the Boys 12 A Playoff champion, according to the official tournament records.
Minerva Academy’s July 2026 Titles
| Tournament | Venue | Final opponent | Final result | Date |
| Helsinki Cup | Helsinki, Finland | HJK Helsinki | 1-0 | July 11 |
| Gothia Cup, Boys 12 | Gothenburg, Sweden | RS Sports Yellow | 2-1 | July 18 |
Two Titles in Seven Days
Minerva Academy’s July run gave the club two European youth titles in the space of a week, with the Helsinki Cup followed by the Gothia Cup. The results also continued a strong period for the academy on the international circuit.
Earlier in 2026, Minerva’s Under-15 team defeated Liverpool’s Under-15 side 6-0 in the Round of 16 at the Mediterranean International Cup in Spain. The academy had also won the Gothia Cup, Dana Cup and Norway Cup in 2025, with its Under-14 side scoring 130 goals in eight matches at the Norway Cup before beating Sverresborg 14-1 in the final.
For Minerva Academy, the two July titles add another significant chapter to its international youth football record. The Helsinki Cup provided its first title in Finland after the 2025 runners-up finish, while the Gothia Cup victory saw the academy successfully defend its Boys 12 crown with a nine-match winning record and 87 goals.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Minerva Academy won the Helsinki Cup and Gothia Cup in July 2026.
Minerva Academy defeated HJK Helsinki 1-0 in the final on July 11, 2026.
Minerva Academy defeated Brazil’s RS Sports Yellow 2-1 in the Boys 12 final on July 18, 2026.
Minerva Academy scored 87 goals in nine matches at the 2026 Gothia Cup.
