Competing against some of the world’s premier football academies, the team was placed in the highly competitive Group B, often referred to as the “group of death.”

The young Warriors won all three group-stage matches, topping their group with nine points and a goal difference of +7. In the Round of 32, Minerva secured a 4-0 victory over Canadian side Braves d’Ahuntsic to advance to the Round of 16.

In a notable Round of 16 encounter, Minerva produced a stunning 6-0 win against Liverpool FC, a prominent European team, impressing spectators and reinforcing their global credentials. Their campaign ended in the quarter-finals after a narrow 2-1 defeat to UE Figueres.

Raj Singh Wahengbam emerged as one of the tournament’s leading goal scorers, standing alongside top talents from European academies and emphasising the academy’s growing footballing quality.

Interestingly, two of Minerva’s group-stage opponents, EF Santa Ana and Kaptiva Sports Academy, advanced to the consolation final, where EF Santa Ana won 1-0, highlighting the strength of Minerva’s group.

The fifth-place finish marks a statement of intent, signalling that Minerva Academy FC has transitioned from participation to competition and is earning respect on football's global youth stage. This campaign represents a defining chapter in the academy's development and the ascent of Indian youth football internationally.