FIFA President Gianni Infantino has lauded India's impressive showing at the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan. Infantino described the young Indian team as 'very, very strong' and highlighted their campaign as a major highlight of the tournament.

In a video interaction shared on Instagram, Infantino acknowledged India's efforts, emphasizing that such tournaments are about more than just winning, especially at the Under-15 level. He noted, "India won quite a few games. You have actually been a very, very strong team in this very first FIFA World Cup and Festival here in Azerbaijan. It has been one of the highlights.” He added that the experience is crucial for young players to learn and cherish.

Coached by Bibiano Fernandes, the Indian 'Blue Colts' finished 87th among 189 participating nations after playing 10 matches in Baku. They secured five victories, defeating teams like Laos (4-2), Cameroon (2-1), Bahrain, Trinidad and Tobago, and Cuba (6-4). Their journey also included four defeats and a 3-3 draw against Grenada. India concluded their campaign on a high note, beating Cuba 6-4 in the 87th-place play-off on October 30. R Lalremruatfela was India's top scorer with nine goals, followed by Lalawmpuia with eight, showcasing the emerging talent within Indian football.

Disclaimer: This story is sourced from a syndicated agency feed and has been refined using artificial intelligence to improve readability. Please note that this article was published automatically and has not undergone a human editorial review.