Shillong, Jan 22: Meghalaya will kick off their final round journey in the 79th Senior Men’s National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2025–26 with a Group B encounter against Odisha on January 22, aiming to make a strong early statement in one of the most competitive groups of the tournament. The match is scheduled to begin at 2 pm at the Silapathar Football Stadium in Assam and will be streamed live on FIFA+.
Group B has been widely described as the tournament’s toughest pool, featuring established heavyweights such as Punjab, Kerala, Services and Railways. Collectively, these teams boast a rich legacy of 25 Santosh Trophy titles and 28 runner-up finishes. Meghalaya, who reached the final once in their history, and Odisha, still seeking their first appearance in a title match, complete the group.
For Meghalaya, the tournament evokes memories of their standout 2022–23 campaign, when they finished runners-up after a closely fought final against Karnataka. Head coach Khlain Pyrkhat Syiemlieh, who led the side during that memorable run, has returned to guide the team once again, this time with a reshaped squad and a demanding group-stage challenge ahead.
Their path to the final round was marked by narrow margins. Meghalaya suffered a 2–1 defeat to Sikkim in the preliminaries before registering a crucial 2–1 win over Arunachal Pradesh. Qualification was secured on goals scored, highlighting how little separated the teams at that stage. While preparation ahead of the preliminary round was limited, the squad has since benefited from several weeks of focused training and planning.
The extended preparation period has also helped the coaching staff manage selection challenges caused by player unavailability due to club commitments and other factors. With backing from the Meghalaya Football Association, the team management believes it has assembled a competitive and well-balanced squad capable of holding its own against strong opposition.
With four teams from each group advancing to the quarter-finals, Meghalaya’s immediate focus will be on consistency through the round-robin phase. The opening match against Odisha is seen as particularly important, as early points could prove decisive in a tightly contested group where every result is likely to carry weight.
