India, the defending champions, won their record-extending ninth championship by defeating Kuwait in the final in the previous edition.[3]
Host selection
This edition is expected to be held on a home-and-away format despite plans to play a centralized one in Sri Lanka.[4][5]
On April 2025, the competition was postponed to 2026 with Sri Lanka hosting an invitational tournament instead.[6] The postponement was due to logistical issues with the venues, preparation periods for the competing nations, and the desire to coincide the tournament with the excitement from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[7]
Each team had to register a squad with a minimum of 18 players and a maximum of 23 players, at least three of whom must be goalkeepers.
Venue
The 2026 SAFF Championship, the 15th edition of South Asia's premier men's football tournament, is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka, marking the country's return as host after a 17-year hiatus. Initially planned for 2025, the tournament was postponed to 2026 to align with the excitement surrounding the FIFA World Cup and to provide adequate preparation time for participating nations .
The Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) proposed Colombo as the host city, with matches expected to be played at the Racecourse Grounds and the Sugathadasa Stadium . These venues have previously hosted significant football events, including the 1995 SAFF Championship, where Sri Lanka secured their only title to date. Hosting the tournament presents an opportunity for Sri Lanka to showcase its footballing infrastructure and reignite national interest in the sport.
While there were discussions about adopting a home-and-away format to increase local engagement and attendance, logistical challenges and political considerations, particularly concerning matches between India and Pakistan, led to the decision to maintain a centralized format in Sri Lanka . This approach aims to ensure a cohesive tournament experience and address potential complications arising from cross-border fixtures.
The 2026 edition will feature all seven SAFF member nations: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. As preparations continue, the tournament is poised to be a significant event in South Asian football, offering a platform for regional talent and fostering unity through sport.
Draw
The draw ceremony for the 2026 SAFF Championship was scheduled to take place on April 25, 2025, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This event aimed to determine the group stage matchups for the tournament, which features all seven member nations of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF): Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Teams were to be seeded based on their FIFA rankings as of April 2025, with India leading the list at 127, followed by Maldives (164), Nepal (175), Bhutan (182), Bangladesh (183), Pakistan (198), and Sri Lanka (200) . The draw was expected to divide the teams into two groups, ensuring a balanced competition. However, due to logistical challenges and the desire to align the tournament with the excitement surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the SAFF Championship was postponed to 2026, with Sri Lanka set to host an invitational tournament instead . The rescheduling aims to provide adequate preparation time for all participating nations and enhance the overall quality of the tournament.
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Bangladesh 
Bhutan 
India 
Maldives 
Nepal 
Pakistan 
Sri Lanka 