The 79th Senior Men’s National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy marks one of the most consequential chapters in the competition’s long history.
Established in 1941 as the bedrock of state-level football in India, the Santosh Trophy has often mirrored the health of the domestic ecosystem. The 2025–26 edition, however, goes a step further reflecting a conscious structural reset driven by governance reforms, regulatory courage and a renewed emphasis on homegrown identity.
Featuring 38 teams and spread across nine venues, the ongoing edition is not merely a football tournament but a litmus test for the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) push to decentralise talent development. With the group stages running from December 15 to December 26, the competition has already delivered defining results, particularly on Monday, December 22, which reshaped qualification scenarios across multiple groups .
At the heart of this transformation lies a major eligibility overhaul. Under AIFF Circular 59, teams are now permitted to field only players born within the territorial jurisdiction of their respective state associations. The previous residency-based loophole often exploited by stronger associations to stack squads with imported talent has been removed.
The intent is clear: reconnect state teams with their grassroots ecosystems, curb age manipulation, and ensure that success at the Santosh Trophy level genuinely reflects local footballing health.
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The impact has been immediate and uneven. Traditional talent-rich regions such as Manipur, Mizoram, Punjab and Kerala have largely benefited, while metropolitan hubs like Maharashtra and Delhi have struggled to adapt. Maharashtra’s failure to qualify for the final round for the second consecutive year underlines how dependent some regions had become on migrant footballers rather than local pipelines.
The competition structure itself reinforces balance. Three teams hosts Assam, defending champions West Bengal and runners-up Kerala earned direct qualification to the final round. The remaining 35 teams were split into nine geographically clustered groups, hosted across the country. From Mahilpur in Punjab, often dubbed the “nursery of Indian football,” to Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh and Shillong in Meghalaya, the venues reflect AIFF’s intent to take elite domestic football beyond traditional urban centres.
Group H, hosted in Bengaluru, has emerged as the tournament’s toughest cluster. Featuring former champions Services, Karnataka and Goa, the group delivered its decisive moments on December 22. Services stamped their authority with a 2–1 win over hosts Karnataka, powered by Khullakpam Zahir Khan’s two early goals. Karnataka’s late resurgence, including a spectacular strike by Louis Nickson and a disallowed 87th-minute equaliser, fell short as Services secured qualification through discipline and early-game efficiency .
Goa’s 1–1 draw against Lakshadweep on the same day further highlighted the shifting landscape. Once a dominant Santosh Trophy force, Goa’s inability to put away lower-ranked opposition has left them on the brink, underlining how the new eligibility rule has narrowed gaps while punishing complacency.
In Group F at Narayanpur, Odisha delivered the most commanding performance of the day with a 4–0 demolition of Madhya Pradesh. Their structured build-up play and ruthless transitions marked them as one of the most complete sides in the preliminary rounds. Telangana’s narrow 2–1 win over hosts Chhattisgarh ensured a high-stakes head-to-head remains to decide the group, keeping qualification suspense alive in central India.
Elsewhere, Punjab’s unbeaten run in Group A showcased defensive excellence three wins, ten goals scored, none conceded while Nagaland’s topping of Group D ahead of Manipur stood out as one of the tournament’s biggest statements. Their 3–0 victory over Manipur earlier in the group phase symbolised the closing gap between North-East football’s traditional powers and emerging states .
Tamil Nadu’s campaign in Group G has been defined by attacking dominance. Scoring 14 goals without reply, including a 5–0 thrashing of hosts Andhra Pradesh, they have announced themselves as serious contenders for the final round. Rajasthan, meanwhile, edged out Gujarat on goal difference in Group I, illustrating how fine margins now decide fate in a more level playing field.
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Perhaps the most dramatic narrative is unfolding in Group E in Shillong. With only three teams Meghalaya, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh the group remains wide open heading into the final matchday. Arunachal require just a draw to progress, while hosts Meghalaya face a must-win scenario with goal-difference permutations adding further tension. The high-altitude SSA Stadium has become the backdrop for a contest where tactical discipline may outweigh flair .
Beyond results, the Santosh Trophy’s developmental significance is increasingly evident. For ISL and I-League clubs, the tournament remains a vital scouting ground, especially under squad composition rules that reward domestic depth. For host Assam, the January 2026 final round to be held in Dhakuakhana and Dhemaji represents more than football, serving as a rehearsal for larger multi-sport ambitions, including the 2027 National Games.
As the group stage approaches its conclusion, the 79th Santosh Trophy has already reaffirmed its relevance. By restoring the tournament’s original intent state versus state, culture versus culture Indian football has taken a step toward sustainability rooted not in shortcuts, but in genuine local development.
