Kerala and Services will meet in the final of the 2025-26 Santosh Trophy at the Dhakuakhana Football Stadium in Assam on Sunday as both sides look for their eighth crown.
Both teams are seven-time champions. Kerala boasts a proud record of nine runner-up finishes besides seven titles, while Services have lifted the trophy seven times and finished as runners-up five times.
History, legacy and redemption will all be on the line as the final promises an enthralling battle of contrasting styles, in which Kerala’s attacking firepower will be tested against Services’ signature defensive discipline.
Kerala have been one of the most dominant sides in the tournament after topping Group B by ten points and carrying that momentum into the knockouts with emphatic wins. It defeated hosts Assam 3-0 in the quarter-finals, before producing a brutal 4-0 defeat of Punjab in the semi-finals.
READ ALSO | Santosh Trophy Final 2025-26: Everything you need to know
Muhammad Ajsal has been the key player for Kerala, scoring five goals in the seven matches so far.
However, Kerala, who last won the title in 2021-22, will remember that the only match they lost was against Services and will be keen to avenge their defeat.
Services, the last champions in 2023-2024, will take confidence from that victory despite taking the tougher route to the final. The journey has been built on resilience and mentality, especially in the quarter-final victory over defending champions West Bengal via a penalty shootout.
While Services is often defined by its defending organisation, it does have an edge going forward with Abhishek Pawar, the tournament’s joint second-highest scorer with six goals this season. Pawar has scored repeatedly in key moments, including the decisive goal against Kerala in the group stage and his semi-final win over Railways.
Published on February 7, 2026
