New Delhi: Odisha have been placed in a tough group in the final round of the 79th national football championship for the Santosh Trophy.

The final phase of the championship, to be held in Assam’s Dhakuakhana and Silapathar, will feature 12 teams divided into two groups.

The draw, conducted at the Football House in New Delhi on Wednesday, pitted Odisha in Group B along with five other former champions — Kerala, Services, Punjab, Railways and Meghalaya.

Odisha will be looking to make the title round for the first time.

Group A comprises 33-time champions Bengal, hosts Assam, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Nagaland and Rajasthan.

Assam got direct entry into the final round by virtue of being the hosts, while West Bengal and Kerala qualified automatically as champions and runners-up of the previous edition.

The other nine teams qualified by topping their respective groups in the preliminary phase of the competition last month.

Odisha won Group F with an all-win record against Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

SANTOSH TROPHY 2025-26 FINAL ROUND

Group A: Assam (hosts), West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Nagaland, Rajasthan.

Group B: Kerala, Services, Punjab, Odisha, Railways, Meghalaya.

League stage: January 21 to Feb 1

Knockout stages: Top 4 teams from each group will progress.

Quarterfinals: February 2 and 3

Semifinals: February 5

Final: February 8.