In a moment that will be etched in Indian grassroots football history, St. Xavier’s Collegiate School (SXCS), Kolkata, proudly represented India at the MADCUP 2025 — one of the largest youth football tournaments in the world, held in Madrid, Spain. Hosted jointly by Atlético de Madrid, the Municipality of Madrid, and the United Nations, this year’s edition saw participation from top academies across the globe — including Real Madrid, Botafogo, Marseille, and elite sides from Japan, Korea, Argentina, and the USA.
Making their mark in the U-16 Boys’ category, SXCS became the first-ever Indian school team to be part of this iconic competition — an achievement far beyond the boundaries of wins and losses.
Their journey was marked with symbolic milestones. ITA Airways welcomed the squad on their journey to Madrid, acknowledging them as the first Indian team to participate in MADCUP — a gesture that underlined the significance of their presence. Before their opening match, the players met Shri Dinesh K. Patnaik, the Ambassador of India to Spain, who encouraged them to embrace the experience and wear the Indian colours with pride. “Winning or losing will pass,” he said. “What stays is the fact that you’ve opened a door for many others to follow.”
The boys played five matches, progressing to the Silver Plate Knockouts. Their campaign concluded with a hard-fought 2-0 loss to La Coruña Academy — a respected Spanish side. The team was led by a committed and experienced support staff, including Coach Romario Topno, Club Manager Bijit Sarkar, Manager Farino Torcato, Vice Principal Narendra Singh, and Press Officer Ritam Dey.
The squad, a blend of talent and tenacity, was captained by Loren Lepcha, Aadit Das, and Nirvaan Mukherjee, whose leadership anchored the team throughout the campaign. Supporting them on the field were Ryan Cranenburgh, Awaan Ahmed, Suchet Tudu, Ridge Nathaniel, Chris Lakra, Baidurya Ghosh, Parth Raja, Miran Uddin Ahmed, Hridhan Karar, Melvin Bhowmick, Rudransh Sarkar, Rishaan Sethia, Jayostu Chakraborty, Abhiraj Das, Bhavya Jain, Charles Adhikary, and the youngest of them all, Fravash Jeejeebhoy, who impressed with his composure far beyond his age, going toe to toe with 16-year-old Europeans twice his size.
However, the true test of character came in their opening game, where they faced Atlético de Madrid’s U-16 team, featuring eight players from Spain’s national youth squad. Though the result wasn’t in their favour, the boys showed immense spirit and resilience, earning respect from coaches and peers alike.
The crowning moment came during the closing ceremony at Estadio Riyadh Air Metropolitano, home to Atlético de Madrid. In a stirring finale, the boys from Kolkata carried the Indian tricolour across the stadium, marking the first time the Indian flag was paraded in the tournament’s history. In that moment, football transcended the pitch. For the boys, it wasn’t about the scoreline anymore. It was about representation, belonging, and creating a legacy for Indian school football.
The week-long event wasn’t just about competition — it included intercultural exchanges, guided city tours, and leadership workshops, giving players a chance to experience sport as a vehicle for global citizenship. The Xaverian boys found themselves rubbing shoulders with future professionals, coaches from elite academies, and peers from vastly different footballing cultures — from South Korea to South America.
In a tournament defined by elite competition, St. Xavier’s Collegiate School proved that the true victory lies in representation. Their journey was not about the final whistle — it was about the flag they carried, the barriers they broke, and the legacy they leave behind for Indian football at the grassroots level.