Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 27: The All India Football Federation has confirmed that Assam will host the final round of the 79th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2025–26 in January 2026. The group-stage competition, featuring 35 teams, will run from December 15 to 26, 2025, across nine venues nationwide.
Teams have been divided into nine groups—eight groups of four and one group of three. The winners of each group will advance to the 12-team final round, joining hosts Assam along with defending champions West Bengal and last season’s runners-up Kerala. Dhakuakhana and Dhemaji will serve as the host cities for the final stage.
Assam last hosted the Santosh Trophy final round in the 2010–11 season, when West Bengal triumphed over Manipur in Guwahati.
79th Santosh Trophy Group Stage Line-Up
Group A – Mahilpur, Punjab
Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab
Dec 15: J&K vs Ladakh; HP vs Punjab
Dec 17: HP vs J&K; Ladakh vs Punjab
Dec 19: Ladakh vs HP; Punjab vs J&K
Group B – Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
Chandigarh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand
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
Bihar, Jharkhand, Railways, 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
Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, 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
Meghalaya, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh
Dec 19: Meghalaya vs Sikkim
Dec 21: Sikkim vs Arunachal Pradesh
Dec 23: Arunachal Pradesh vs Meghalaya
Group F – Narainpur, Chhattisgarh
Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana
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
Andaman & Nicobar, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry
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
Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Services
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
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
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
The group stage promises intense competition as teams fight for a place in Assam’s final round, marking another milestone in the legacy of India’s oldest premier football tournament.