Santosh Trophy 2025-26 Final round kicks off in Assam

The 79th Santosh Trophy National Football Championship is all set to kick off with Assam hosting for the seventh time.

The state first organized it in Nowgong in 1959-60 and then again in 1969-70. In between, four editions were organized efficiently in Guwahati.

Hosts Assam, West Bengal and Kerala were placed directly into the final round groups as they were exempted from playing the initial group stage matches. The twelve teams are divided into two groups of six teams each.

The top four teams will advance to the quarter-finals to be held on February 2 and 3. The two semi-finals are scheduled for February 5 and the grand final is scheduled for February 8.

In Group A, only Bengal, champions 33 times and runners-up 14 times, is the only team in the group to have won the Santosh Trophy. Tamil Nadu has finished second twice. Assam, Nagaland, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand are yet to reach the final.

Group B is full of four former champions and one runner-up. Punjab has won the title eight times and finished runners-up eight times. Kerala has a record of seven and nine in terms of wins and second-string performances. Services has won the title seven times and finished second five times. Railways has won the award three times and finished second six times. Meghalaya finished second once, while Odisha is the only team that did not make it all the way to the final.

The matches are streamed live FIFA+.

Published on January 20, 2026