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.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest happenings in the world of Indian Football.

The post Santosh Trophy 2025–26: Groups and New Player Eligibility Rule Introduced appeared first on Football Counter.

Ryan Williams, who currently plays for Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League, has previously represented Australia at the international level. The 31-year-old winger, who has Indian roots through his mother’s Anglo-Indian family from Mumbai, is awaiting final clearance from Football Australia before being officially registered to play for India.

Abneet Bharti, a 27-year-old centre-back, plays for Academia del Balompié Boliviano (ABB) in Bolivia. Bharti holds an Indian passport and has been invited to the national camp on a trial basis, where the coaching staff will assess his fit within the squad.

The inclusion of both players reflects the AIFF’s intent to widen the national team’s pool by considering Indian-origin players with experience in overseas leagues. The training camp, set to take place in Bengaluru, will prepare the team for their qualifier match scheduled in Dhaka later this month.

If cleared and selected, both Williams and Bharti could make their first appearances for India, adding international exposure and depth to the squad as preparations continue for the Asian Cup qualification campaign.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest happenings in the world of Indian Football.

The post Williams and Abneet Bharti earn call up for Indian National Team Camp Ahead of Asian Cup Qualifiers appeared first on Football Counter.