Assam to Host 2025-26 Santosh Trophy Final Round in January

The All India Football Federation has announced that Assam will host the final round of the 79th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy in January 2026. This prestigious event will see the group-stage matches taking place from December 15 to 26, 2025, across nine venues throughout the country.

Group Stage Details and Teams Involved

A total of 35 teams will participate in the group stage, which has been organized into nine groups. Eight groups consist of four teams each, while one group features three teams. The winners from each group will advance to the final round, joining the host team from Assam, along with the defending champions, West Bengal, and last season’s runners-up, Kerala.

The final matches will take place in the cities of Dhakuakhana and Dhemaji. This will mark the first time since the 2010-11 season that Assam has hosted the final round of the Santosh Trophy, when West Bengal triumphed over Manipur in Guwahati.

Group Stage Fixtures

The group stage promises to deliver exciting football as teams vie for a spot in the final round. Here are the fixtures for each group:

Group A – Mahilpur, Punjab:
Dec 15: J&K vs Ladakh; HP vs Punjab
Dec 17: HP vs Ladakh; Punjab vs J&K
Dec 19: Ladakh vs HP; Punjab vs J&K

Group B – Meerut, Uttar Pradesh:
Dec 16: Uttarakhand vs Chandigarh; UP vs Haryana
Dec 18: Haryana vs Uttarakhand; Chandigarh vs UP
Dec 20: Chandigarh vs Haryana; Uttarakhand vs UP

Group C – Delhi:
Dec 15: Bihar vs Railways; Jharkhand vs Delhi
Dec 17: Railways vs Jharkhand; Delhi vs Bihar
Dec 19: Bihar vs Jharkhand; Delhi vs Railways

Group D – Agartala, Tripura:
Dec 15: Mizoram vs Nagaland; Manipur vs Tripura
Dec 17: Nagaland vs Manipur; Tripura vs Mizoram
Dec 19: Manipur vs Mizoram; Nagaland vs Tripura

Group E – Shillong, Meghalaya:
Dec 19: Meghalaya vs Sikkim
Dec 21: Sikkim vs Arunachal Pradesh
Dec 23: Arunachal Pradesh vs Meghalaya

Group F – Narainpur, Chhattisgarh:
Dec 22: Odisha vs MP; Chhattisgarh vs Telangana
Dec 24: Telangana vs Odisha; MP vs Chhattisgarh
Dec 26: MP vs Telangana; Chhattisgarh vs Odisha

Group G – Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh:
Dec 17: A&N vs Tamil Nadu; AP vs Pondicherry
Dec 19: Tamil Nadu vs AP; Pondicherry vs A&N
Dec 21: A&N vs AP; Pondicherry vs Tamil Nadu

Group H – Bengaluru, Karnataka:
Dec 20: Goa vs Services; Karnataka vs Lakshadweep
Dec 22: Lakshadweep vs Goa; Services vs Karnataka
Dec 24: Lakshadweep vs Services; Goa vs Karnataka

Group I – Jaipur, Rajasthan:
Dec 17: Gujarat vs Maharashtra; DNH & DD vs Rajasthan
Dec 19: Maharashtra vs DNH & DD; Rajasthan vs Gujarat
Dec 21: DNH & DD vs Gujarat; Maharashtra vs Rajasthan

With teams eager to secure their place in the final round, the group stage is set to be a showcase of talent and competitive spirit. This event continues to highlight the Santosh Trophy as a cornerstone of Indian football, enriching the tournament’s long-standing legacy.