2026 SAFF Futsal Championship

Last updated

2026 SAFF Futsal Championship
2026 SAFF Futsal Championship.png
Tournament details
Host country Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand
Dates14–26 January 2026
Teams7 (from 1 sub-confederation)
Venue2 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of Maldives.svg  Maldives (1st title)
Runners-upFlag of India.svg  India
Third placeFlag of Nepal.svg    Nepal
Tournament statistics
Matches played21
Goals scored129 (6.14 per match)
Attendance1,360 (65 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of Maldives.svg Mohamed Imran
(9 goals in 6 matches)
2027 →

The 2026 SAFF Futsal Championship was the inaugural edition of the SAFF Futsal Championship, the biennial international futsal championship organised by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) for the men's national teams of South Asia region countries. The tournament was played in Bangkok, Thailand from 14 to 26 January 2026. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

The championship will be accompanied by capacity-building courses for coaches and referees, aimed at strengthening the foundation of futsal in the region. [1]

Venue

SAFF General Secretary, Purushottam Kattel, stated that Thailand was selected for its infrastructure, accessibility, and the limited futsal experience among member nations. He noted that potential India–Pakistan complications were also a factor in the decision. [5]

Venue in Thailand
Bangkok
2026 SAFF Futsal Championship (Thailand)
Nonthaburi Stadium Hua Mak Indoor Stadium
Capacity: 4,000Capacity: 8,000
Nonthaburi Province Stadium 20180310.jpg HuaMak.jpg

Participating teams

All the seven member states made their debut in the inaugural edition. [6]

CountryAppearancePrevious best FIFA ranking
Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 1st (Debut)N/a139
Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan NR
Flag of India.svg  India 133
Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives 109
Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal 114
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 138
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka NR

Match officials

Due to the limited number of SAFF futsal referees, SAFF appointed 10 futsal referees to officiate the tournament, nine of whom were from outside the regional body.

Referees
Match Commissioners
Referee Accessors

Standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsResultFlag of Maldives.svg  MDV Flag of India.svg  IND Flag of Nepal.svg    NEP Flag of Pakistan.svg  PAK Flag of Bangladesh.svg  BAN Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  SRI Flag of Bhutan.svg  BHU
1Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives (C)6600286+2218 Champions 5–0 2–1 6–1
2Flag of India.svg  India 63212617+911 Runners-up 3–3 4–1 4–4
3Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal 63211812+611 Third-place
4Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 63122020010 1–7 4–4 5–2 4–2
5Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 62131621−57 1–6 4–4 1–4 1–5 5–1 4–1
6Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 60151024−141 2–5 1–4 1–2 3–3
7Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan 60151129−181 1–3 3–11 1–4
Source: SAFF
(C) Champions

Matches

The SAFF had released its official match schedule for the season, detailing dates, venues, and kickoff times for all the matches. [7]

Match 1
Sri Lanka  Flag of Sri Lanka.svg3–3Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan
  • Mohamed Aakib Soccerball shade.svg8', 18'
  • Mohammed Thilham Soccerball shade.svg36'
 Report
Nonthaburi Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 75
Referee: Ali Ahmadi (Iran)
Match 2
India  Flag of India.svg4–4Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh
  • Anmol Adhikari Soccerball shade.svg12'
  • Lalsawmpuia Soccerball shade.svg20'
  • K Roluahpuia Soccerball shade.svg27', 36'
 Report
Nonthaburi Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 70
Referee: Chris Sinclair (New Zealand)
Match 3
Pakistan  Flag of Pakistan.svg1–7Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives
  • Nisar Hussain Soccerball shade.svg26'
 Report
  • Ahmed Hameed Soccerball shade.svg7'
  • Ali Shiyah Soccerball shade.svg10'
  • Mohamed Imran Soccerball shade.svg12', 24'
  • Zaidhaan Ahmed Soccerball shade.svg20'
  • Ali Shamal Abdulla Soccerball shade.svg20'
  • Abdulla Shafiu Soccerball shade.svg33'
Nonthaburi Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 50
Referee: Benjapol Mucharoennsap (Thailand)
Match 4
Sri Lanka  Flag of Sri Lanka.svg1–2Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal
Mohamed Kursheeth Soccerball shade.svg10' Report Saroj Tamang Soccerball shade.svg15', 21'
Hua Mak Indoor Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 50
Referee: Chonlakan Luangsa-Ard (Thailand)
Match 5
Pakistan  Flag of Pakistan.svg4–2Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan
  • Hassaan Zafar Soccerball shade.svg28'
  • Asif Ahmad Soccerball shade.svg32'
  • Adan Ashfaq Soccerball shade.svg34', 35'
 Report
Hua Mak Indoor Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 50
Referee: Ali Hafizi (Iran)
Match 6
Maldives  Flag of Maldives.svg6–1Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh
  • Mohamed Imran Soccerball shade.svg1'
  • Ishan Ibrahim Soccerball shade.svg9'
  • Ahmed Rahil Rasheed Soccerball shade.svg10', 31'
  • Ali Shiyah Soccerball shade.svg16' (pen.)
  • Abdulla Shafiu Soccerball shade.svg40'
 Report
  • Kazi Ibrahim Ahamed Soccerball shade.svg20'
Hua Mak Indoor Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 100
Referee: Ali Ahmadi (Iran)
Match 7
India  Flag of India.svg3–3Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal
Report
Nonthaburi Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 56
Referee: Ali Ahmadi (Iran)
Match 8
Pakistan  Flag of Pakistan.svg5–2Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka
  • Hamza Nusrat Soccerball shade.svg2'
  • Ali Agha Soccerball shade.svg7', 39'
  • Hassaan Zafar Soccerball shade.svg30'
  • Asif Ahmad Soccerball shade.svg34'
 Report
  • Mohamed Aakib Soccerball shade.svg34'
  • Abdul Azeez Soccerball shade.svg40'
Nonthaburi Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 50
Referee: Mohammad Javed Ehtesham (Iran)
Match 9
Bangladesh  Flag of Bangladesh.svg4–1Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan
  • Moin Ahmed Soccerball shade.svg5', 10'
  • Md Foysal Hossain Soccerball shade.svg35'
  • Kazi Ibrahim Ahamed Soccerball shade.svg36'
 Report
Nonthaburi Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 85
Referee: Chris Sinclair (New Zealand)
Match 10
Pakistan  Flag of Pakistan.svg4–4Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal
  • Muhammad Ellham Soccerball shade.svg25'
  • Nisar Hussain Soccerball shade.svg33'
  • Asif Ahmad Soccerball shade.svg34'
  • Hassaan Zafar Soccerball shade.svg37'
 Report
Nonthaburi Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 52
Referee: Benjapol Mucharoennsap (Thailand)
Match 11
Maldives  Flag of Maldives.svg5–0Flag of India.svg  India
Report
Nonthaburi Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 50
Referee: Ali Hafizi (Iran)
Match 12
Bangladesh  Flag of Bangladesh.svg5–1Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka
  • Rahbar Khan Soccerball shade.svg4', 19'
  • Moin Ahmed Soccerball shade.svg22'
  • Tajware Bin Kashem Soccerball shade.svg34'
  • Abir Hossain Soccerball shade.svg39'
 Report
  • Mohamed Aman Soccerball shade.svg5'
Nonthaburi Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 51
Referee: Nattakit Hintua (Thailand)
Match 13
Maldives  Flag of Maldives.svg2–1Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal
  • Abdulla Shafiu Soccerball shade.svg23'
  • Mohamed Imran Soccerball shade.svg33'
 Report
Nonthaburi Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 150
Referee: Ali Hafizi (Iran)
Match 14
Bangladesh  Flag of Bangladesh.svg1–5Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan
  • Fayed Azim Soccerball shade.svg36'
 Report
  • Ali Agha Soccerball shade.svg18', 40'
  • Zaid Ullah Khan Soccerball shade.svg31', 40'
  • Salar Ahmed Khan Soccerball shade.svg37'
Nonthaburi Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 23
Referee: Chris Sinclair (New Zealand)
Match 15
Bhutan  Flag of Bhutan.svg3–11Flag of India.svg  India
Report
  • Jonathan Lalrawngbawla Soccerball shade.svg4'
  • Jignam Seltob Dorji Soccerball shade.svg6' (o.g.)
  • Laltluangzela Soccerball shade.svg9', 39'
  • Lalsawmpuia Soccerball shade.svg15'
  • Anmol Adhikari Soccerball shade.svg17', 32'
  • Seon D'Souza Soccerball shade.svg34'
  • Nikhil Mali Soccerball shade.svg40', 40', 40'
Nonthaburi Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 50
Referee: Mohammad Javed Ehtesham (Iran)
Match 16
Bangladesh  Flag of Bangladesh.svg1–4Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal
Report
Nonthaburi Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 36
Referee: Khamprasong Xayavongsy (Laos)
Match 17
Bhutan  Flag of Bhutan.svg1–3Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives
  • Jigme Tshultrim Soccerball shade.svg12'
 Report
  • Abdulla Junaid Soccerball shade.svg19'
  • Ahmed Hameed Soccerball shade.svg23'
  • Mohamed Imran Soccerball shade.svg36'
Nonthaburi Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 100
Referee: Ali Ahmadi (Iran)
Match 18
Sri Lanka  Flag of Sri Lanka.svg1–4Flag of India.svg  India
  • Mohamed Kursheeth Soccerball shade.svg19'
 Report
Nonthaburi Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 19
Referee: Chonlakan Luangsa-Ard (Thailand)
Match 19
Bhutan  Flag of Bhutan.svg1–4Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal
  • Jetsuen Dorji Soccerball shade.svg16'
 Report
  • Bijay Shrestha Soccerball shade.svg21'
  • Pemba Dorje Lama Soccerball shade.svg25', 31'
  • Saroj Tamang Soccerball shade.svg38'
Nonthaburi Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 58
Referee: Ali Hafizi (Iran)
Match 20
Sri Lanka  Flag of Sri Lanka.svg2–5Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives
  • Mohammed Thilham Soccerball shade.svg17'
  • Mohamed Aman Soccerball shade.svg26'
 Report
  • Mohamed Imran Soccerball shade.svg12', 36'
  • Huzaifath Rasheed Soccerball shade.svg20'
  • Mohamed Aakib Soccerball shade.svg29' (o.g.)
  • Hussain Suhail Soccerball shade.svg34'
Nonthaburi Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 50
Referee: Nicholas Backo (Australia)
Match 21
India  Flag of India.svg4–1Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan
Report
  • Ali Agha Soccerball shade.svg19'
Nonthaburi Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 135
Referee: Chris Sinclair (New Zealand)

Statistics

Goalscorers

There were 129 goals scored in 21 matches, for an average of 6.14 goals per match.

9 goals

  • Flag of Maldives.svg Mohamed Imran

6 goals

5 goals

4 goals

  • Flag of Maldives.svg Abdulla Shafiu
  • Flag of India.svg Anmol Adhikari
  • Flag of India.svg Laltluangzela
  • Flag of Nepal.svg Saroj Tamang
  • Flag of Pakistan.svg Ali Agha

3 goals

2 goals

  • Flag of Bangladesh.svg Fayed Azim
  • Flag of Bangladesh.svg Kazi Ibrahim Ahamed
  • Flag of Bhutan.svg Nima Wangdi
  • Flag of India.svg K Roluahpuia
  • Flag of Maldives.svg Ahmed Rahil Rasheed
  • Flag of Maldives.svg Ali Shamal Abdulla
  • Flag of Maldives.svg Ali Shiyah
  • Flag of Nepal.svg Bijay Shrestha
  • Flag of Nepal.svg Pemba Dorje Lama
  • Flag of Pakistan.svg Adan Ashfaq
  • Flag of Pakistan.svg Nisar Hussain
  • Flag of Pakistan.svg Zaid Ullah Khan
  • Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Mohamed Kursheeth
  • Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Mohamed Aman
  • Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Mohammed Thilham

1 goal

  • Flag of Bangladesh.svg Abir Hossain
  • Flag of Bangladesh.svg Md Foysal Hossain
  • Flag of Bangladesh.svg Tajware Bin Kashem
  • Flag of Bhutan.svg Jigme Tshultrim
  • Flag of Bhutan.svg Kinga Wingchuk
  • Flag of India.svg Jonathan Lalrawngbawla
  • Flag of Nepal.svg Amit Lama
  • Flag of Nepal.svg Jenish Prajapati
  • Flag of Nepal.svg Suraj Gurung
  • Flag of Nepal.svg Sanje Syangtan
  • Flag of Nepal.svg Lakpa Tamang
  • Flag of Maldives.svg Ishan Ibrahim
  • Flag of Maldives.svg Zaidhaan Ahmed
  • Flag of Maldives.svg Huzaifath Rasheed
  • Flag of Maldives.svg Hussain Suhail
  • Flag of Maldives.svg Abdulla Junaid
  • Flag of Pakistan.svg Hamza Nusrat
  • Flag of Pakistan.svg Muhammad Ellham
  • Flag of Pakistan.svg Salar Ahmed Khan
  • Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Abdul Azeez Mohamed Azmeer

1 own goal

  • Flag of Bhutan.svg Jignam Seltob Dorji (against India)
  • Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Mohamed Aakib (against Maldives)

Broadcasting

TerritoryBroadcaster(s)Notes
No restricted territorySportzworkz

(YouTube channel)

 2026 SAFF Futsal matches's channel on YouTube

See also

2026 in SAFF
Men's Championships
TBD Under-17 Under-20 Under-23 Senior Futsal Club
Women's Championships
TBD Under-17TBD Under-20N/aN/a Futsal TBD Club

References

  1. 1 2 "SAFF to Launch Inaugural Futsal Championship in January 2026". www.saffederation.org. 5 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "SAFF planning to host first futsal championship". Adhadhu Sports. 25 September 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "Saff to launch first Futsal Championship in January 2026". www.tob.news.com. 5 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  4. ↑ Report, Star Sports (5 October 2025). "Saff to launch futsal championship next year". The Daily Star. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  5. ↑ "দক্ষিণ এশিয়ায় নয়, আগামী বছর থাইল্যান্ডে সাফ ফুটসাল". Bangladesh Times (in Bengali). Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  6. ↑ "Seven South Asian Nations Make History in Womens Futsal at SAFF Championship 2026 in Thailand". Thairath Online. 11 January 2026. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "SAFF Futsal Championship 2026". SAFF . 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
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