Bangladesh wants to directly target India

Despite ongoing sporting tensions with India, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has expressed its firm intention to host this year’s South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship. BFF President Tabith Awal confirmed that the regional football event could take place in September 2026, marking a significant return of international football to the country. For the first time, the tournament may be staged across three venues, expanding beyond the capital city of Dhaka.

On Monday, BFF officials met with the current Youth and Sports Adviser, Asif Nazrul, at the federation’s Dhaka office to discuss the logistical and infrastructural arrangements. During the meeting, the adviser approved the use of two additional stadiums outside Dhaka—in Chittagong and Sylhet—for the tournament, with plans to upgrade both venues to international standards.

While discussions focused on football, the topic of Bangladesh’s cricket team’s participation in the upcoming World Cup in India also arose. Adviser Nazrul reiterated the government’s concern over player safety, reaffirming the country’s cautious stance on sending teams abroad under current circumstances. Naturally, this brought the issue of India’s participation in the SAFF Championship into question.

However, Tabith Awal emphasised that football should remain above political considerations. “I don’t believe we ever bring such debates into football. As recently as last November, our neighbouring country played here, and in March we travelled there for matches. It would not be appropriate to raise questions of this nature at this time. Football remains football, and players will compete against their counterparts without other distractions,” he said.

The BFF chief highlighted that the goal of hosting this year’s SAFF Championship is to revitalise football across Bangladesh. By expanding the tournament beyond Dhaka, the federation hopes to bring the sport closer to fans nationwide. “If we host the SAFF Championship, our vision is to spread the game across the country. That’s why we plan to hold matches in at least three venues: Dhaka, Chittagong, and Sylhet. This will ensure the tournament is lively and demonstrates our capability as hosts,” Awal added.

Proposed SAFF 2026 Venues in Bangladesh

With these developments, Bangladesh aims to host a successful SAFF Championship while promoting football enthusiasm nationwide, even amidst diplomatic and sporting sensitivities with India.