Mumbai City’s Under-15 squad made a memorable run in the 2024 AIFF Junior Youth League, showcasing the club’s growing focus on grassroots development and its commitment to nurturing local talent. The young Islanders put on an impressive display throughout the tournament, winning hearts—and games—before a dramatic penalty shootout against East Bengal FC saw them bow out at the Quarter Final stage on 22nd May 2025.
From the very start, the team played with confidence and flair. With nine wins and just one loss, Mumbai City dominated the group stages and quickly emerged as a team to watch. Their style of play—built on technical skill, tactical awareness, and team spirit—was a reflection of the hard work being done behind the scenes at the club’s academy.
What made this squad truly special was its roots. Every player in the team hails from Mumbai, a testament to the club’s commitment to developing talent from within the city. Many of them have grown through the ranks since the academy resumed operations post-COVID in 2022-23. Players like Tanishq Pandya, Moksh Girap, Veer Chothani, and Arnav Singh were part of the first intake into the U13s and have now graduated to the U15s. Others, like Livaan Mittal, Shvet Patil, and Samridh Jha, were picked during the 2023-24 trials and have quickly made their mark.
Newer faces such as Viraj Arora, Rian Uniyal, and Ranvir Chona were scouted through local leagues and joined ahead of the 2024-25 season. Together, they’ve formed a tight-knit group of homegrown players—talented, determined, and hungry to grow.
Behind their success is a setup built for long-term development. Mumbai City’s academy provides a structured environment with certified coaches, modern training methods, and a focus on all-round development—technical, tactical, physical, and mental. It’s a system designed not just to build better footballers, but to shape confident, resilient young people.
The 2024 campaign may have ended in heartbreak, but the future looks bright. With a solid foundation and a pool of passionate young players rising through the ranks, the next generation of Islanders is ready to carry the club forward.
