The Blue Colts have started their journey in an enchanting style in the FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival 2026. The 4-2 win against Laos marked a significant milestone as, for the first time, India won a FIFA World Cup match. However, head coach Bibiano Fernandes is still keeping his feet on the ground and, according to him, this victory is just the beginning of a bigger journey. In the opening Group K encounter, the youngsters showed tremendous character, fierce fighting spirit, and resilience from the beginning of the game against Laos. Laos tried to bounce back in the game, and they even made it 2-2, but India continued to push forward and scored two more goals to seal the victory.
According to Fernandes, the achievement belongs to everyone who played a part in the journey of this team to reach this place. Speaking to the AIFF PR Team, Fernandes said, “First of all, this achievement belongs to the players, their families, the support staff, and everyone who has contributed to Indian football. I am very proud of the boys for the courage they have shown on the pitch. It was a big stage and the first match of the World Cup and festival for the boys and us, so I feel they can still play better in the upcoming matches.”
The coach also elucidated the team’s mindset when the score was 2-2. The youngsters stayed calm and focused on winning the match instead of dwelling on the goals conceded and playing defensively.
“At 2-2, it is always best to be in the present, rather than the past and future, and this is what we have been working on, training our brains to focus on what we can do with the time we have in our hands. The boys kept working, and we got the goals,” Fernandes said.
According to Fernandes, there is no place for complacency even after this historic win. The coach believes the Blue Colts need to keep their feet firmly on the ground and prepare for the next match against Cameroon.
Fernandes added, “We are grateful for the appreciation and respect that the team is receiving. Our victory against Laos is an important achievement, but we must remember that this is only one step in our journey. I believe the best response to our performance is to remain humble and continue working hard.”
Beyond this match result, Bibiano Fernandes hopes that this win will inspire the children across the country to play football, work hard, and make the nation proud. According to him, this victory will make the youth of the country believe that representing India on the international stage is within their reach and hard work pays off.
“I believe every young Indian footballer should dream. As a coach, my greatest hope is that this inspires more children to take up football, believe in themselves, and dream of representing India,” Fernandes said.
