Santosh Trophy 2022: Everything you need to know as the tournament starts on 16th April

The Santosh Trophy, also known as the Senior National Football Championship, is a knockout tournament in which the regional state associations and government institutions, under the All India Football Federation (AIFF), take part.

The Santosh Trophy was considered the top domestic honour in India before the start of the first national club league, the National Football League in 1996. The tournament is held every year with 37 teams, who are divided into five zones. The teams must play the qualifying rounds to progress to the main tournament.

West Bengal are the most successful team having won a record number of 32 titles. The current champions are Services, who won their sixth title during the last Santosh trophy tournament in the 2018–2019 season.

Santosh Trophy 2022: Venues

The Santosh Trophy 2022 tournament is the 75th edition of this prestigious tournament and will start on 16th April. This year it will be held at two venues in Malappuram, Kerala – the Manjeri Payyanaad Stadium, and the Kottappadi Stadium. The final will take place on 2nd May at the Manjeri Payyanaad.

10 teams will be participating in the main Santosh Trophy tournament this year. The 10 teams have been divided into two groups of five teams each. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals.

Santosh Trophy 2022: Groups & Fixtures

Group A: Meghalaya, Punjab, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Kerala

April 16, 9.30 AM: West Bengal vs Punjab, Kottappadi Football Stadium (KFS)
April 16, 8 PM: Kerala vs Rajasthan, Manjeri Payyanad Football Stadium (MPFS)
April 18, 4 PM: Rajasthan vs Meghalaya, KFS
April 18, 8 PM: Kerala vs West Bengal, MPFS
April 20, 4 PM: Punjab vs Rajasthan, KFS
April 20, 8 PM: Meghalaya vs Kerala, MPFS
April 22, 4 PM: West Bengal vs Meghalaya, KFS
April 22, 8 PM: Punjab vs Kerala, MPFS
April 24, 4 PM: Rajasthan vs West Bengal, KFS
April 24, 8 PM: Meghalaya vs Punjab, MPFS

Group B: Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Services, Manipur

April 17, 4 PM: Odisha vs Karnataka, KFS
April 17, 8 PM: Manipur vs Services, MPFS
April 19, 4 PM: Services vs Gujarat, KFS
April 19, 8 PM: Manipur vs Odisha, MPFS
April 21, 4 PM: Gujarat vs Manipur, KFS
April 21, 8 PM: Karnataka vs Services, MPFS
April 23, 4 PM: Karnataka vs Manipur, KFS
April 23, 8 PM: Odisha vs Gujarat, MPFS
April 25, 4 PM: Services vs Odisha, KFS
April 25, 8 PM: Gujarat vs Karnataka, MPFS

Santosh Trophy 2022: Semi-Finals

April 28, 8 PM: Winner Group A vs Runners-up Group B, MPFS
April 29, 8 PM: Winner Group B vs Runners-up Group A, MPFS

Santosh Trophy 2022: Final

May 2, 8 PM: Winner Match 21 vs Winner Match 22

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