Bangladesh draw SL, Bhutan and Nepal in SAFF C’ship Group A

Hosts Bangladesh have been drawn in Group A alongside Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal for the TECNO SAFF Championship Bangladesh 2026, following the official draw held on Saturday in Thimphu, Bhutan.

Group B comprises defending champions India, the Maldives and Pakistan, setting the stage for another fiercely contested edition of South Asia's premier international men's football tournament, scheduled to be held in Dhaka from 4 to 17 November.
  
However, the participation of Nepal is subject to FIFA clearance as the country is facing bar from the Football governing body due to issues. 

Bangladesh will be aiming to make home advantage count as they seek a second SAFF title, having lifted their only crown on home soil in 2003. 

The men in red and green will also hope to build on their encouraging run to the semi-finals in the 2023 edition, where they narrowly lost 1-0 to eventual finalists Kuwait.

The draw followed a week after the tournament's official logo was unveiled in Dhaka, where TECNO was announced as the competition's Official Title Sponsor, formally launching the countdown to the 15th edition of the regional showpiece.

Meanwhile, the SAFF Ordinary Congress also took place in Thimphu, with veteran Bangladeshi football administrator Kazi Md Salahuddin set to continue as SAFF President by acclamation for the 2026-2030 term after being the sole eligible candidate.

Preparations for the championship are already gathering momentum. Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Tabith Awal has confirmed his plans to media to arrange four international friendlies during the September FIFA international window to sharpen the national team's preparations and improve its FIFA ranking. 

Under German-American head coach Thomas Dooley, Bangladesh will also hold a 10-day training camp before the September window, followed by a two-week residential camp ahead of the championship.

The tournament will mark Bangladesh's fourth time as hosts after staging the regional spectacle in 2003, 2009 and 2018.