Bangladesh to stage SAFF C’ship after eight years 

 
Bangladesh will host the 15th SAFF Championship from 4 to 17 November, marking the return of South Asia's premier men's international football tournament to Dhaka for the first time in eight years.

The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) confirmed the dates and venue on Tuesday, with all member associations expected to compete in the region's flagship football championship, formerly known as the SAARC Gold Cup and later the SAFF Gold Cup.

It will be the fourth time Bangladesh has hosted the tournament after staging the competition in 2003, 2009 and 2018. The official logo will be unveiled in Dhaka on 25 July, while the tournament draw and the SAFF Ordinary Congress will both take place in Thimphu, Bhutan, on 1 August.

"We are absolutely delighted to announce the dates and venue for the SAFF Championship 2026," SAFF General Secretary Purushottam Kattel said in a statement.
He said the championship had produced countless memorable moments for football supporters across South Asia and expressed confidence that Bangladesh, where interest in football continues to surge, would deliver a successful tournament.

The November event also presents Bangladesh with another opportunity to chase only its second SAFF crown. The hosts lifted their lone title on home soil in 2003, defeating the Maldives 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final. Bangladesh also finished runners-up in 1999 and 2005, losing 2-0 to India on both occasions.

When Bangladesh last hosted the tournament in 2018, however, the home side failed to progress beyond the group stage, while India defeated the Maldives 2-1 in the final to reclaim the title.

The most recent edition was held in Bengaluru, India, in 2023, where India retained the trophy by beating guest side Kuwait 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time to claim a record-extending ninth title. Bangladesh bowed out in the semi-finals after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Kuwait. Kuwait and Lebanon had participated as invited teams after FIFA suspended Football Sri Lanka ahead of the tournament.

The SAFF Ordinary Congress in Bhutan is also expected to reaffirm Bangladesh's influence in regional football administration.

Veteran football organiser Kazi Md Salahuddin is set to be re-elected unopposed as SAFF President for the 2026-2030 term after emerging as the sole eligible candidate. Bangladesh's Sabbir Ahmed Arif is also set to join the SAFF Executive Committee by acclamation, alongside Jaswar Umaru Lebbe of Sri Lanka as vice-president, Hussain Shafiu of the Maldives as executive committee member and Zimbiri of Bhutan as the female executive committee member.

SAFF said one vice-president's position, one executive committee seat and the AFC Executive Committee seat representing SAFF will remain vacant and will be filled during a future electoral cycle.