Kerala has expressed its interest in hosting the next Santosh Trophy, with five districts under consideration as potential venues. The KFA will submit its official bid once the AIFF invites applications.
Kochi: Kerala is looking to host the Santosh Trophy football championship once again, with the Kerala Football Association (KFA) informing the All India Football Federation (AIFF) of its interest in staging the tournament.
As the runners-up of the previous edition, Kerala is expected to qualify directly for the final round of the next Santosh Trophy if the existing qualification format remains unchanged. In that case, the KFA aims to host the final round in the state.
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However, if the AIFF revises the format and requires Kerala to compete from the qualification round, the KFA is considering hosting both the South Zone round (which includes Kerala) and the final round.
Five districts in the fray
Five districts, including Kochi, are under consideration as potential venues for the final round. Football associations in Kozhikode, Kannur, Malappuram and Thrissur have expressed interest in hosting the tournament.
Kochi, with the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium offering a seating capacity of more than 40,000, is considered a strong contender due to its commercial potential. The KFA is keen to host the tournament in Kochi if the state government extends support, particularly in meeting the stadium rental costs.
If Kochi is not selected, Kozhikode — with a seating capacity of around 35,000 — is likely to be the next preferred venue. Kannur, which can accommodate around 20,000 spectators, and Malappuram, with a capacity of approximately 14,000, have also expressed interest in hosting the event.
Thrissur is also among the districts interested in hosting the tournament. However, the seating capacity of its stadium is fewer than 10,000, which could be a disadvantage.
Interest conveyed to AIFF
KFA President Navas Meeran said the association has already conveyed its interest in hosting the Santosh Trophy to the AIFF.
"We have informed the federation of our interest in hosting the Santosh Trophy. Once bids are officially invited, the KFA will submit its proposal. If we are awarded the tournament, a final decision on the venue will be taken without delay," he said.
Published: 07 Aug 2026, 03:26 pm IST
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