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Assam to Host Santosh Trophy Final After 15-Year Wait in January 2026

Assam is set to host the prestigious Santosh Trophy final round in January 2026. This marks the state's return as host after a 15-year gap since the 2010-11 season. Thirty-five teams will battle through group stages across nine venues nationwide. The top teams will converge in Assam's Dhakuakhana and Dhemaji for the championship finale.

Key Points: Assam Hosts Santosh Trophy 2025-26 Final Round in January

  • Thirty-five teams compete across nine groups from December 15-26, 2025
  • Group winners join hosts Assam, West Bengal, and Kerala
  • Final round features 12 teams in Dhakuakhana and Dhemaji
  • Assam last hosted Santosh Trophy finals in 2010-11 season
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Assam to host Santosh Trophy 2025-26 final round in January

Assam will host the Santosh Trophy 2025-26 final round in January 2026, marking the state's first time hosting the national football championship finals since 2010-11 season.

"The final round will be hosted in Dhakuakhana and Dhemaji - All India Football Federation"

New Delhi, Nov 27

The final round of the 79th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2025-26 will be held in Assam in January 2026. The group stages will take place across nine venues from December 15 to 26, 2025.

Thirty-five teams will contest the group stage, consisting of nine groups (eight groups with four teams and one group with three). The group winners will join hosts Assam, last season's champions West Bengal and runners-up Kerala in the 12-team final round that will be hosted in Dhakuakhana and Dhemaji.

The last time Assam hosted the Santosh Trophy final round was in the 2010-11 season when West Bengal defeated Manipur to lift the trophy in Guwahati.

79th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2025-26 Group Stage Fixtures:

Group A (hosted in Mahilpur, Punjab): Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab

December 15: Jammu & Kashmir vs Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh vs Punjab

December 17: Himachal Pradesh vs Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh vs Punjab

December 19: Ladakh vs Himachal Pradesh, Punjab vs Jammu & Kashmir

Group B (hosted in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh): Chandigarh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand

December 16: Uttarakhand vs Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh vs Haryana

December 18: Haryana vs Uttarakhand, Chandigarh vs Uttar Pradesh

December 20: Chandigarh vs Haryana, Uttarakhand vs Uttar Pradesh

Group C (hosted in Delhi): Bihar, Jharkhand, Railways, Delhi

December 15: Bihar vs Railways, Jharkhand vs Delhi

December 17: Railways vs Jharkhand, Delhi vs Bihar

December 19: Bihar vs Jharkhand, Delhi vs Railways

Group D (hosted in Agartala, Tripura): Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura

December 15: Mizoram vs Nagaland, Manipur vs Tripura

December 17: Nagaland vs Manipur, Tripura vs Mizoram

December 19: Manipur vs Mizoram, Nagaland vs Tripura

Group E (Shillong, Meghalaya): Meghalaya, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh

December 19: Meghalaya vs Sikkim

December 21: Sikkim vs Arunachal Pradesh

December 23: Arunachal Pradesh vs Meghalaya

Group F (hosted in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh): Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana

December 22: Odisha vs Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh vs Telangana

December 24: Telangana vs Odisha, Madhya Pradesh vs Chhattisgarh

December 26: Madhya Pradesh vs Telangana, Chhattisgarh vs Odisha

Group G (hosted in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh): Andaman & Nicobar, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry

December 17: Andaman & Nicobar vs Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh vs Pondicherry

December 19: Tamil Nadu vs Andhra Pradesh, Pondicherry vs Andaman & Nicobar

December 21: Andaman & Nicobar vs Andhra Pradesh, Pondicherry vs Tamil Nadu

Group H (hosted in Bengaluru, Karnataka): Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Services

December 20: Goa vs Services, Karnataka vs Lakshadweep

December 22: Lakshadweep vs Goa, Services vs Karnataka

December 24: Lakshadweep vs Services, Goa vs Karnataka

Group I (hosted in Jaipur, Rajasthan): Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu

December 17: Gujarat vs Maharashtra, DNH & DD vs Rajasthan

December 19: Maharashtra vs DNH & DD, Rajasthan vs Gujarat

December 21: DNH & DD vs Gujarat, Maharashtra vs Rajasthan

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Great to see the tournament spread across so many venues! From Punjab to Karnataka, football fever will grip the entire nation. Excited to see how the North Eastern teams perform this time.
A
Arjun K
West Bengal vs Kerala final rematch would be epic! But don't count out Manipur and Mizoram - they always bring that surprise element. The Northeast has produced some fantastic footballers over the years.
S
Sarah B
While I appreciate the spread of venues, I wish the scheduling was better planned. Some groups have matches starting December 15 while others begin much later. Creates uneven preparation time for teams.
M
Michael C
Good to see smaller states and union territories getting representation. Teams like Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar getting this platform is important for football development across all regions of India.
K
Kavya N
As a football fan from Assam, I'm so proud! Hope our team puts up a good show being the hosts. The last time we hosted, West Bengal won - maybe this time it's our turn? 🤞
V
Vikram M
The group stage fixtures look exciting! Group D with all Northeast teams - Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura - that's going to be the group of death! Can't wait for the

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