Minerva 'surprise' for Liverpool; Indian club grabs headlines with thumping win

LONDON: Punjab-based Minerva Academy, the Indian football team known for its grassroots prowess, became the hot topic in the sports milieu across the world after the club humbled English top-flight Liverpool in the Mediterranean International Cup.

With this stunning win against England’s most celebrated club, Minerva entered the quarter-finals of the MIC Cup tournament in the U-15 division.

Raj Singh of the Punjab club completed the game with a hat-trick while Azam Khan scored a brace. Amid the tumultuous happenings in Indian football, including an impasse in the domestic tournament, Minerva’s emphatic win is more than a respite for the football lovers in the nation.

In the last year alone, Minerva Academy managed to win three titles, including the Gothia Cup in Sweden, the Dana Cup in Denmark and the Norway Cup in Norway.

The Punjab-based club defeated Liverpool FC 6-0 in the Round of 16 in the MIC Cup 2026. This tournament provides a stage for young academies and grassroots sides across the world to prove their mettle. This is also the stage where scouts assigned by top clubs keenly watch for future prodigies. All the matches are held in Barcelona, Spain.

Elite clubs, including Barcelona and Real Madrid, are participating in the tournament.