Piyush Khanore
AIFF Media Team

DHAKUAKHANA, ASSAM: The 79th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy 2025-26 will reach its grand finale on Sunday, February 8, when two of India’s decorated sides — Services and Kerala — clash for the title at the Dhakuakhana Football Stadium in Assam. The match will begin at 13:00 IST and will be streamed live on FIFA+.

Both teams are seven-time champions, and Sunday’s showdown will decide who claims their eighth crown. Kerala boast a proud record of nine runners-up finishes alongside their seven titles, while Services have lifted the trophy seven times and finished second on five occasions. 

History, legacy, and redemption will all be on the line as the final promises a compelling contest of contrasting styles, where Kerala’s attacking firepower will be tested against Services’ trademark defensive discipline.

Kerala have been one of the most dominant sides in the tournament, having topped Group B with 10 points and carried that momentum into the knockouts with emphatic wins. They brushed aside hosts Assam 3-0 in the quarter-finals before producing a ruthless 4-0 demolition of Punjab in the semi-finals. 

Their campaign has been defined by free-flowing football, clean sheets in both knockout matches, and a growing sense that they are ready to reclaim the trophy they last won in 2021-22. Muhammad Ajsal has been the key player for Kerala, scoring five goals in their seven Final Round matches so far.

Kerala head coach Shafeeq Hassan, on the eve of the final, said, “We believe in playing good football and entertaining the audience. Most importantly, we believe in the process and the process has gone well so far.”

Shafeeq showed a lot of respect for opponents Services. “They are soldiers by nature, with a never-give-up mentality,” he said. “We respect that legacy, and we will respond with our own football heritage and identity.”

Their players, too, have spoken of how they have adapted with every match. Centre Back Manoj M said, “Initially, we struggled here. But now, after playing seven matches, we we know what we have to do. Everything feels fine now, and we are fully prepared.”

Kerala, though, will remember that the only match that they lost in the final round was against Services and will be keen on avenging their defeat.

Services, last champions in 2023-24, will take confidence from that win despite having taken the harder road to the final. Their journey has been built on resilience and mentality, most notably in their quarter-final triumph over defending champions West Bengal via a penalty shootout.

Services head coach Subedar Mileswamy Govindaraju Ramachandran, “The most important factor at this stage is mentality. We stayed strong psychologically, supported by our management, and that helped us bounce back. Hard work eventually pays off.”

While Services have often been defined by their defensive organisation, they do possess a cutting edge going forward in Abhishek Pawar, the joint second-highest scorer of the tournament with six goals this season. Pawar has repeatedly scored in key moments, including the decisive strike against Kerala in the group stage and his brace in the semi-final win over Railways.

“Yes, scoring goals has been challenging for us at times,” the Services coach conceded. “But our strength lies in our defensive structure. That balance has brought us here."

Services Goalkeeper and captain Gagandeep Singh said, “The final will be completely different from the group-stage matches. Now, both teams are on the verge of lifting the trophy, which changes everything.”