Bangladesh confirmed as host of 2026 SAFF Championship

The tournament will be played entirely in Dhaka from Nov 4 to Nov 17

Bangladesh will host the 15th edition of the SAFF Championship, South Asian football's premier competition.

The decision was finalised at a South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) meeting on Tuesday.

The tournament was originally due to return in 2025 after a two-year gap, but SAFF was unable to hold it as scheduled due to several complications.

Those complications have now been resolved.

The competition will run from Nov 4 to 17, with all matches to be played in Dhaka.

The tournament's official logo will be unveiled in the capital on Jul 25, while the official draw is set to take place in Bhutan’s Thimphu on Aug 1.

Hamza Choudhury, Shamit Shome and Fahamedul Islam will get their first opportunity to play a SAFF Championship on home soil.

Bangladesh last hosted the tournament in 2018, having also staged it in 2003 and 2009.

The 2003 edition remains the only time the Red and Greens have lifted the trophy.

The tournament was last held in India’s Bengaluru in 2023, where Bangladesh reached the semi-finals.

India remains the tournament's most successful side with nine titles. Maldives have won twice, in 2008 and 2018.

Apart from Bangladesh, Afghanistan won the title in 2013, while Sri Lanka lifted the trophy in 1995.