New Delhi, Nov 30 (Agency) The draw for the 77th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2023-24 Final Round was conducted at the Football House in New Delhi on Thursday,The dates for the Santosh Trophy have tentatively been fixed from February 21 to March 9, 2024,the All India Football Federation (AIFF) sources said.Twelve teams were divided into two groups of six each. The participants include six group stage winners (Goa, Delhi, Manipur, Assam, Services and Maharashtra), three best second-placed teams (Kerala, Mizoram and Railways), and three automatic qualifiers – hosts Arunachal Pradesh, last season’s champions Karnataka and finalists Meghalaya.For the first time since its inception in 1941, the Santosh Trophy will be held in Arunachal Pradesh.
The hosts were placed in Group A. The new format for the tournament will see an expanded knockout stage, with the top four teams from each group progressing to the quarter-finals.AIFF Acting Secretary General Mr Satyanarayan M said, “It’s going to be a very special edition ofthe Santosh Trophy as we take the tournament to Arunachal Pradesh for the first time. I thank our President Kalyan Chaubey, Treasurer Kipa Ajay and Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu for hosting the Santosh Trophy Final Round.”77th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy 2023-24 Final Round Draw Result: GROUP A: Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Goa, Assam Services, Kerala. GROUP B: Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, Manipur, Mizoram Railways.