St. Xavier’s Collegiate School (SXCS) from Kolkata has made history by becoming the first-ever Indian youth team to participate in the prestigious MADCUP U‑16 (Junior Real Madrid Cup) in Madrid, Spain. 

What’s the tournament about?

• Hosted by Atlético Madrid with support from the Community of Madrid, RFEF, UN Tourism, and major clubs including Real Madrid, Juventus, Sevilla, Sporting CP, and more, the tournament spans 32 sports facilities in Madrid, including the top-tier Metropolitano Stadium, Ciudad Deportiva del Real Madrid, and Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas.  
• The MADCUP is a federated international grassroots tournament, now in its fifth edition.

SXCS Participation Details

• A 20‑member squad (players + teachers) flew to Madrid on June 18, with their opening match on June 20 against Atlético de Madrid U‑16 at the Metropolitano.  
• The players underwent three months of intensive training focused on stamina, strength, and tactical development under coach Romario Angelo Topno.  
• Trak Only, known for partnerships with Indian clubs like East Bengal and NEUFC, is sponsoring their kit.  

Voices from Team SXCS

• Rev. Fr Roshan Tirkey, Principal: “This is a huge achievement… we have instilled a sense of ‘we can’ … to go up against the best young players in the world.”  
• Farino Torcato (House Coordinator): “We’re actually thrilled to be the underdogs.”  
• Nirvaan Mukherjee (Goalkeeper): “To play at the Metropolitano… is a privilege.”  

 A Landmark Moment

• SXCS’s participation marks a major leap for Indian grassroots football, giving students exposure to modern infrastructures like VAR, and shining on an international stage.  
• The previous edition attracted nearly 250,000 spectators, and matches were televised on big platforms like MARCA and Movistar.