Bangladesh to Host SAFF Championship Again After Eight Years

The wait is finally over. The dates and venue for the SAFF Championship 2026 have been confirmed, with Dhaka set to host South Asia’s leading international football tournament from 4 to 17 November.

Organised by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), the championship has established itself as one of the region’s most prestigious and eagerly anticipated football events. The tournament brings together the national teams of South Asia, offering players an important platform to compete at regional level while giving supporters the chance to witness some of the continent’s fiercest football rivalries.

All SAFF member nations are expected to take part in the 2026 edition. The final tournament structure and groupings will become clearer after the official draw, which is scheduled to take place in Thimphu, Bhutan, on 1 August.

Preparations for the competition are already moving ahead. The official logo of the SAFF Championship 2026 is scheduled to be unveiled in Dhaka on 25 July. The logo launch will serve as one of the first major public events ahead of the tournament, while the draw in Bhutan will provide the next key milestone in the build-up to the competition.

SAFF Secretary General Purushottam Kattel expressed his excitement after the dates and host venue were confirmed. He said the championship holds a special place in the region’s football history and has produced countless memorable moments for supporters over the years.

The SAFF chief also pointed to the timing of the announcement, coming shortly after the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He described the period as an exciting one for football fans across South Asia and said Bangladesh’s confirmation as host was particularly encouraging given the country’s growing interest in the sport.

Kattel expressed hope that Bangladesh would deliver a major and successful tournament that would leave a lasting impression on both players and spectators. His comments underline the importance of the event not only as a football competition but also as a regional sporting occasion capable of bringing supporters from across South Asia together.

He added that a range of activities, announcements and events linked to the championship would be introduced over the coming weeks and months. The planned programme is expected to build anticipation as the countdown to the tournament gathers momentum.

For Bangladesh, the return of the SAFF Championship is particularly significant. The 2026 tournament will be the 15th edition of the competition and will mark the first time since 2018 that the country’s capital hosts the region’s premier international football championship.

The eight-year gap has made the announcement especially significant for Bangladeshi football supporters. Hosting the tournament on home soil will give the country another opportunity to showcase its football infrastructure and stage a major regional sporting event in front of a passionate domestic audience.

With the official logo launch in Dhaka and the tournament draw in Thimphu both scheduled for the coming weeks, preparations are set to enter a more visible phase. For fans across South Asia, the road to the 2026 SAFF Championship has now officially begun, with Dhaka preparing to welcome the region’s leading national teams in November.