The defending champions Goa, runners-up West Bengal along with last year's losing semi-finalists Tamil Nadu and Services receive automatic qualification into the quarter-final stage.

Denson Devadas' brace was enough for West Bengal to claim their record 30th Santosh Trophy title, edging past Punjab 2–1 in the grand finale played at the Salt Lake Stadium at Kolkata.

Bengal looked the better side right from the word go[citation needed] and took an attacking approach, but were missing their two key strikers and it was clearly making things difficult for Coach Shabbir Ali.

Bengal was not to throw in the towel and pulled one back at the stroke of half-time, with Denson heading in a Snehasish Chakraborty corner kick in the near post.

Bengal continued their good run and their hard work was finally paid, when Denson once again scored, with his 25-yard scorcher, leaving the Punjab goalkeeper Paramjit Singh stranded before hitting the woodwork and rolling inside in the 76th minute.