Groups Archives - Football Counter https://www.footballcounter.com/tag/groups/ The Home of Indian Football Mon, 17 Nov 2025 06:16:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://static.footballcounter.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/15041743/cropped-footballcounter-logo2-32x32.png Groups Archives - Football Counter https://www.footballcounter.com/tag/groups/ 32 32 Santosh Trophy 2025–26: Groups and New Player Eligibility Rule Introduced https://www.footballcounter.com/2025/santosh-trophy-2025-26-groups-announced-and-new-player-eligibility-rule-introduced/ https://www.footballcounter.com/2025/santosh-trophy-2025-26-groups-announced-and-new-player-eligibility-rule-introduced/#respond Mon, 17 Nov 2025 06:15:48 +0000 https://www.footballcounter.com/?p=88208 The 79th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2025–26 is set to begin with a refreshed structure and a stronger push for developing local talent. The tournament will open...

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]]> The 79th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2025–26 is set to begin with a refreshed structure and a stronger push for developing local talent. The tournament will open with a group stage featuring nine geographical groups, with only the group winners progressing to the Final Round. Last season’s champions (West Bengal) and runners-up (Kerala) receive direct qualification, and the Final Round host will also enter directly without competing in the group stage.

A major update from the All India Football Federation adds an important shift this year: state teams will not be allowed to field outstation players. This decision aims to ensure that every team represents its own footballing ecosystem, giving priority to home-grown players and strengthening local development across all states.

Here are the official groups for the 2025–26 season:

Group A: Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab
Group B: Chandigarh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh
Group C: Bihar, Jharkhand, Delhi, Railways
Group D: Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura
Group E: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim
Group F: Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana
Group G: Andaman & Nicobar, Andhra Pradesh, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu
Group H: Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Services
Group I: DNH & DD, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan

With a another strong and competitive season approaching, the 2025–26 Santosh Trophy promises a more authentic and development-focused season across India.

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