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Santosh Trophy 2025-26 Final Round Draw Sets Stage for Assam Hosting Epic Clash

The draw for the 79th Santosh Trophy's Final Round has been conducted, setting the groups for the tournament to be hosted in Assam. Twelve teams have been split into two groups, with hosts Assam and defending champions West Bengal placed in Group A. The tournament begins on January 21, 2026, with the top four teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage culminating in the final on February 8. Nine teams earned their place through the qualifying group stage held earlier this month.

Key Points: Santosh Trophy 2025-26 Final Round Draw: Groups, Schedule, Hosts

  • Hosts Assam headline Group A
  • Defending champs West Bengal qualify automatically
  • Top 4 from each group advance to knockouts
  • Final scheduled for February 8, 2026
2 min read

Draw out for 12-team Santosh Trophy 2025-26 Final Round

The draw for the 79th Santosh Trophy Final Round is set. Hosts Assam headline Group A with West Bengal. See the full groups, schedule, and qualified teams.

"The Final Round will kick off on January 21, 2026, with 12 teams being divided into two groups of six each. - AIFF Official Release"

New Delhi, January 1

The draw for the 79th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy 2025-26 Final Round, which will be hosted in Dhakuakhana and Silapathar, Assam, was conducted at the Football House, in New Delhi on Wednesday, as per the official website of All India Football Federation.

The Final Round will kick off on January 21, 2026, with 12 teams being divided into two groups of six each.

Hosts Assam, along with West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Nagaland, and Rajasthan, have been drawn in Group A, while Kerala, Services, Punjab, Odisha, Railways, and Meghalaya have been drawn in Group B.

Assam got direct entry into the Final Rounds as the hosts, while West Bengal and Kerala qualified automatically as the winners and runners-up of the 2024-25 edition, respectively. The other nine teams have each qualified as the top teams in their respective groups in the Group Stage that was held earlier this month.

The top four teams from each group will progress to the knockout stages. The quarter-finals will be played on February 2 and 3, the semi-finals on February 5, and the final on February 8.

79th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy 2025-26 Final Round Draw:

Group A: Assam (hosts), West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Nagaland, Rajasthan.Group B: Kerala, Services, Punjab, Odisha, Railways, Meghalaya.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Exciting to see the tournament structure. Having it in Assam is a wonderful initiative to promote football in the North-East. The knockout stage schedule is tight though, hope player fitness is managed well.
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Vikram M
As a Bengali, my money is on West Bengal to retain the trophy! But Kerala in Group B will be strong contenders too. Santosh Trophy still has that raw, passionate state rivalry which I love. 🇮🇳⚽
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Priya S
Happy to see my state Tamil Nadu in the mix! But honestly, the scheduling feels rushed. Quarterfinals to final in just 6 days? Doesn't give teams much time to recover, especially after a group stage.
R
Rohit P
Good to see teams like Nagaland and Meghalaya qualifying. Football talent is everywhere in India, not just the traditional powerhouses. Hope the matches get good coverage on TV or streaming.
M
Michael C
Interesting format. The inclusion of institutional teams like Services and Railways adds a unique dimension. Wondering if the host cities in Assam are fully prepared for an event of this scale?

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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