The semi-finals and finals of the Santosh Trophy will be held abroad for the first time ever in 2023. The 76th edition of the tournament will be unique, since the last four will be competing at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The timings of the matches will be announced at a later date, as confirmed by the AIFF Secretary General Dr Shaji Prabhakaran.
Santosh Trophy semi-finals and finals to be held in Saudi Arabia
“This is a great moment for Indian football, as the four states that make it to the semifinals will get to fight for the Santosh Trophy title in Saudi Arabia. I would like to convey my sincere thanks to the SAFF for all their help and cooperation in helping us achieve this vision of taking the Hero Santosh Trophy to a next level,” said Dr Prabhakaran.
“I would also like to profusely thank the Government of Odisha for extending their massive and continuing support in hosting the 12 teams in the final rounds of the Santosh Trophy,” he added.
Prabhakaran also spoke about the Vision 2047 plan that has been drawn up by the AIFF, and how the Santosh Trophy is contributing to it. By offering international exposure and a chance to play abroad, the tournament is expected to be even more competitive among the participating teams.
However, the number of domestic fans that will be able to afford a trip to Saudi Arabia for the Santosh Trophy is a big question. The country has had success outsourcing domestic tournaments from Spain, like the Supercopa de Espana. But for a growing economy like India, there is a chance it could yield mixed results.
