Host Bangladesh Drawn With Sri Lanka and Bhutan in SAFF Championship

Bangladesh have been drawn alongside Sri Lanka and Bhutan in Group A for the upcoming 15th SAFF Championship, as the hosts look to end a 23-year title drought on home soil.

The official draw ceremony for South Asia’s flagship international football tournament took place on Saturday, 1 August, in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. Representatives from the participating member associations attended the event. The occasion also coincided with Kazi Salahuddin being re-elected unopposed as the President of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).

The group stage allocations confirmed during the ceremony pit Bangladesh against familiar regional opponents. In Group B, defending champions India have been placed alongside former winners Maldives and traditional rivals Pakistan.

Although SAFF comprises seven member nations, Nepal were excluded from the official draw procedure due to an ongoing FIFA suspension. However, tournament organisers clarified that Nepal could still feature in the competition if their suspension is lifted by FIFA before 30 September. Should Nepal secure reinstatement, football authorities are considering placing them into Group A. Such a move would provide host nation Bangladesh with additional competitive fixtures during the group stage, though SAFF has yet to issue a definitive statement regarding this contingency.

Bangladesh last lifted the coveted regional trophy in 2003, when they hosted the tournament in Dhaka and defeated the Maldives in a memorable final. The nation has endured a long and frustrating wait to replicate that success, suffering early exits and final heartbreaks in subsequent editions.

The 15th edition of the SAFF Championship will take place in Bangladesh from 4 to 17 November. Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, the national team will be under intense pressure to capitalise on familiar conditions and reclaim the pinnacle of South Asian football after more than two decades.