Indian football witnessed another thrilling Santosh Trophy final on February 2026. In a tense, closely fought match, Services edged past Kerala to lift the prestigious national title once again. The final was decided in extra time, showcasing resilience, discipline, and composure under pressure. With this victory, Services added another golden chapter to their rich footballing history and underlined their dominance in domestic football.
Services vs Kerala Santosh Trophy Final 2026
- Services defeating Kerala 1-0 to clinch the 79th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy.
- The final was played at Dhakuakhana Stadium, Assam, and the win gave Services their 8th Santosh Trophy title.
- The match went into extra time, highlighting the intense competition between two of India’s strongest domestic football sides.
Match-Winning Moment in Extra Time
- The decisive moment came in the 109th minute of the match.
- Services striker Abhishek Pawar calmly converted a fine cross delivered by Shubham Rana.
- The goal broke Kerala’s resistance deep into extra time and proved to be the difference in a tightly contested final where chances were limited for both teams.
Kerala’s Late Pressure and Defensive Brilliance
- After conceding the goal, Kerala pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing minutes.
- However, Services captain and goalkeeper Gagandeep Singh marshalled the defence with authority.
- His leadership, positioning, and composure ensured that Services held on to their narrow lead and saw out the match despite sustained pressure from Kerala’s attackers.
Services Growing Legacy in Santosh Trophy
- With this win, Services football team lifted the Santosh Trophy for the eighth time.
- Notably, Services had also defeated Kerala football team in the 2023-24 Santosh Trophy final, making this a repeat of history.
- The victory reinforces Services’ reputation as one of the most consistent and disciplined teams in Indian domestic football.
Santosh Trophy – Overview
| Overview | - Official name: Senior Men’s National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy
- Organised by: All India Football Federation (AIFF)
- Founded: 1941
- Region: India
- Nature: Inter-state & institutional football competition
- Once the top domestic football tournament in India (before National Football League, 1996)
- Many Indian internationals have played in the Santosh Trophy
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| History & Origin | - Started by Indian Football Association (IFA) in 1941
- Named after Sir Manmatha Nath Roy Chowdhury, Maharaja of Santosh
- Trophy later donated to AIFF after its formation
- Runner-up trophy: Kamala Gupta Trophy
- Third place trophy: Sampangi Cup
- Converted to Under-23 tournament (1990–1993), later reverted to senior level
- Rebranded in 2021 as part of National Football Championship
- Since 2022, organised on a zonal basis
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| Tournament Format | - Annual competition
- Teams divided into zones
- Qualifying round to Final round
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| Teams | - Group stage: 36
- Final round: 12
- Participation limited for top-tier club players since 2013
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| Records & Achievements | Most titles: West Bengal (33 titles) Current champions (2025–26): Services Services are among the most consistent modern-era teams Kerala, Punjab, Goa, Bengal have dominated different eras |
| Recent Winners Snapshot | - 2021–22: Kerala
- 2022–23: Karnataka
- 2023–24: Services
- 2024–25: West Bengal
- 2025–26: Services (won vs Kerala, AET)
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Question
Q. Which team won the 79th Santosh Trophy title?
A. Kerala
B. Punjab
C. Services
D. Assam