![]() Emblem of the SAFF | |
Location of members in Asia | |
Abbreviation | SAFF |
---|---|
Formation | 1997 |
Type | Sports organization |
Headquarters | Banani, Dhaka, Bangladesh |
Region served | South Asia |
Membership | 7 member associations |
Official language | English |
![]() | |
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Parent organization | AFC |
Website | saffederation |
South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) is an association of the football playing nations in South Asia which is a regional subsidiary of Asian Football Confederation, incorporated in 1997. The members of the association are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The SAFF was founded in 1997, with Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. In 2000, they expanded to 7 members, adding Bhutan. Afghanistan joined in 2005, but left in 2015, to join then newly formed Central Asian Football Association. [1]
President | Years |
---|---|
![]() | 1997–2001 [2] [3] |
![]() | 2001–2009 [4] [3] |
![]() | 2009–2016 [5] [3] |
![]() | 2016* |
![]() | 2016–present [5] [3] |
FIFA Code | Association | Founded | SAFF affiliation | Top tier league (men's) | Top tier league (women's) | National team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BAN | ![]() | 1972 | 1997 | Bangladesh Premier League | Bangladesh Women's Football League | |
BHU | ![]() | 1983 | 2000 | Bhutan Premier League | Women's National League | |
IND | ![]() | 1937 | 1997 | Indian Super League | Indian Women's League | |
MDV | ![]() | 1982 | 1997 | Dhivehi Premier League | ||
NEP | ![]() | 1951 | 1997 | Martyr's Memorial A-Division League | National Women's league | |
PAK | ![]() | 1947 | 1997 | Pakistan Premier League | National Women Football Championship | |
SRI | ![]() | 1939 | 1997 | Sri Lanka Super League |
Association | SAFF membership duration | Notes |
---|---|---|
![]() | 2005–2015 | Afghanistan joined SAFF in 2005, later left in 2015 to become a founding member of Central Asian Football Association (CAFA). |
The South Asian Football Federation runs several competitions on subcontinental level.
The South Asian Football Federation announced in April 2011 that they had decided to start a new tournament for association football club sides, the SAFF Club Championship, with the inaugural edition to be held in Bangladesh from 1–15 September of the same year. [7] The competition was postponed and desires to revive the competition were again announced in July 2013 but the competition has still not started with accusations that India, the prime nation in the competition, were not altogether interested in participating. [8]
Sri Lanka was supposed to host the first edition in August 2014. [9]
A new possible start was set for December 2016 but later announced that 2017 would see the first edition. [10] [11] This again was changed and announced that 2018 would be the start of the tournament. [12] But the Club Championship was never a reality and only remained as a plan on paper.
The 2024 SAFF Club Championship will be the inaugural edition of the SAFF Club Championship, the biennial international men's club football championship of South Asia organised by South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). [13]
Competition | Current | Champions | Details | Runners-up | Next | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
National teams | |||||||
SAFF Championship | 2023 | India ![]() | Final | ![]() | 2025 | ||
South Asian Games | 2019 | Nepal ![]() | Final | ![]() | 2024 | ||
U-19 Championship | 2023 | India ![]() | Final | ![]() | 2024 | ||
U-16 Championship | 2023 | India ![]() | Final | ![]() | 2024 | ||
Women's national teams | |||||||
SAFF Women's Championship | 2022 | Bangladesh ![]() | Final | ![]() | 2024 | ||
South Asian Games | 2019 | India ![]() | Final | ![]() | 2024 | ||
U-19 Women's Championship | 2024 | Bangladesh ![]() India ![]() | Final | No runners-up | 2025 | ||
U-16 Women's Championship | 2024 | Bangladesh ![]() | Final | ![]() | 2025 | ||
Club teams | |||||||
SAFF Club Championship | 2024 | — | — | — | 2025 |
Nation | National team (men's) | National team (women's) | Club | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SAFF | SAG | U18/U19/U20 | U15/U16/U17 | SAFF | SAG | U18/U19/U20 | U15/U16/U17 | SCC | ||
![]() | 9 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | – | 32 |
![]() | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | – | 12 |
![]() | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | – | 8 |
![]() | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 |
![]() | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 |
![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 |
![]() | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
Former member | ||||||||||
![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 1 |
Invited guest | ||||||||||
![]() | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 |
![]() | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 |
![]() | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 |
Total | 14 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 7 | – | 61 |
Note: (†) Member from 2005 till 2015 , (††) The Russian Under-17 team was invited to the Under-17 tournament
Last Update: 2024 SAFF U-19 Women's Championship (Total: 44 Editions)
Exclude Football at the South Asian Games and SAFF Club Championship.
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For each tournament, the flag of the host country and the number of teams in each finals tournament (in brackets) are shown.
FIFA World Cup record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | 1930 ![]() (13) | 1934 ![]() (16) | 1938 ![]() (15) | 1950 ![]() (13) | 1954 ![]() (16) | 1958 ![]() (16) | 1962 ![]() (16) | 1966 ![]() (16) | 1970 ![]() (16) | 1974 ![]() (16) | 1978 ![]() (16) | 1982 ![]() (24) | 1986 ![]() (24) | 1990 ![]() (24) | 1994 ![]() (24) | 1998 ![]() (32) | 2002 ![]() ![]() (32) | 2006 ![]() (32) | 2010 ![]() (32) | 2014 ![]() (32) | 2018 ![]() (32) | 2022 ![]() (32) | 2026 ![]() ![]() ![]() (48) | 2030 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() (48) | Years | Attempts |
![]() | Did not exist | Not a FIFA member | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | 0 | 11 | |||||||||
![]() | Did not exist | Not a FIFA member | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | TBD | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||
![]() | Not a FIFA member | •• | ‡ | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | 0 | 11 | ||
![]() | Did not exist | Not a FIFA member | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | 0 | 8 | |||||||||||
![]() | Did not exist | Not a FIFA member | × | × | × | • | • | × | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | 0 | 9 | |||||||
![]() | Did not exist | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | 0 | 9 | ||
![]() | Did not exist | ‡ | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | 0 | 9 | ||
Former member | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() | Not a FIFA member | Not a SAFF member | • | • | • | Not a SAFF member | 0 | 3 |
Team | ![]() 1956 (4) | ![]() 1960 (4) | ![]() 1964 (4) | ![]() 1968 (5) | ![]() 1972 (6) | ![]() 1976 (6) | ![]() 1980 (10) | ![]() 1984 (10) | ![]() 1988 (10) | ![]() 1992 (8) | ![]() 1996 (12) | ![]() 2000 (12) | ![]() 2004 (16) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 2007 (16) | ![]() 2011 (16) | ![]() 2015 (16) | ![]() 2019 (24) | ![]() 2023 (24) | ![]() 2027 (24) | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Part of ![]() | × | × | GS | • | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | 1 | |||
![]() | × | • | 2nd | • | × | × | × | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | GS | • | GS | GS | TBD | 5 |
AFC Challenge Cup
| AFC Solidarity Cup
|
Nation | ![]() 1951 (6) | ![]() 1954 (12) | ![]() 1958 (14) | ![]() 1962 (8) | ![]() 1966 (11) | ![]() 1970 (10) | ![]() 1974 (15) | ![]() 1978 (14) | ![]() 1982 (16) | ![]() 1986 (18) | ![]() 1990 (14) | ![]() 1994 (19) | ![]() 1998 (23) | ![]() 2002 (24) | ![]() 2006 (28) | ![]() 2010 (24) | ![]() 2014 (29) | ![]() 2018 (25) | ![]() 2022 (23) | ![]() 2026 (TBA) | Years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Did not exist | 13th | 12th | 14th | 13th | DQ | 20th | 24th | 24th | 20th | 15th | 20th | 10 | ||||||||
![]() | 1st | 8th | 4th | 1st | 8th | 3rd | 13th | 8th | 6th | 16th | DQ | DQ | 16th | 10th | 14th | 14th | 26th | 9th | 16 | ||
![]() | Did not exist | 20th | 22nd | 20th | 17th | 21st | 5 | ||||||||||||||
![]() | 16th | 18th | 18th | 17th | 29th | 22nd | 6 | ||||||||||||||
![]() | 6th | 9th | 11th | 17th | 14th | 23rd | 21st | 22nd | 24th | 17th | 10 | ||||||||||
Former member | |||||||||||||||||||||
![]() | Not a SAFF member | 25th | Not a SAFF member | 1 |
Team | ![]() 1975 (6) | ![]() 1977 (6) | ![]() 1980 (6) | ![]() 1981 (8) | ![]() 1983 (6) | ![]() 1986 (7) | ![]() 1989 (8) | ![]() 1991 (9) | ![]() 1993 (8) | ![]() 1995 (11) | ![]() 1997 (11) | ![]() 1999 (15) | ![]() 2001 (14) | ![]() 2003 (14) | ![]() 2006 (9) | ![]() 2008 (8) | ![]() 2010 (8) | ![]() 2014 (8) | ![]() 2018 (8) | ![]() 2022 (12) | ![]() 2026 (12) | ![]() 2029 (12) | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | × | × | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | × | × | × | × | GS | GS | GS | GS | GS | • | • | • | • | • | •• [lower-alpha 1] | TBD | TBD | 9 |
![]() | × | × | × | × | × | GS | GS | × | × | × | × | GS | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | TBD | TBD | 3 |
Nation | ![]() 1990 (6) | ![]() 1994 (4) | ![]() 1998 (8) | ![]() 2002 (6) | ![]() 2006 (8) | ![]() 2010 (7) | ![]() 2014 (11) | ![]() 2018 (11) | ![]() 2022 (16) | ![]() 2026 (TBA) | Years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 12th | 1 | |||||||||
![]() | 8th | 9th | 13th | 3 | |||||||
![]() | DQ | 11th | 10th | 2 | |||||||
![]() | 11th | 1 |
Nation | ![]() 1959 | ![]() 1960 | ![]() 1961 | ![]() 1962 | ![]() 1963 | ![]() 1964 | ![]() 1965 | ![]() 1966 | ![]() 1967 | ![]() 1968 | ![]() 1969 | ![]() 1970 | ![]() 1971 | ![]() 1972 | ![]() 1973 | ![]() 1974 | ![]() 1975 | ![]() 1976 | ![]() 1977 | ![]() 1978 | ![]() 1980 | ![]() 1982 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | GS | × | GS | GS | 5th | × |
![]() | × | × | × | × | GS | GS | GS | QF | QF | GS | × | × | QF | GS | GS | 1st | GS | GS | QF | GS | • | • |
![]() | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | GS | GS | × | GS | × | × | × | × | • | • |
![]() | × | × | × | GS | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | GS | × | × | × | × | × | × | • |
![]() | 8th | × | GS | × | GS | × | × | GS | QF | × | GS | GS | × | × | × | × | × | GS | × | GS | × | × |
Nation | ![]() 1985 | ![]() 1986 | ![]() 1988 | ![]() 1990 | ![]() 1992 | ![]() 1994 | ![]() 1996 | ![]() 1998 | ![]() 2000 | ![]() 2002 | ![]() 2004 | ![]() 2006 | ![]() 2008 | ![]() 2010 | ![]() 2012 | ![]() 2014 | ![]() 2016 | ![]() 2018 | ![]() 2023 | ![]() 2025 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | • | × | • | • | • | × | GS | • | • | GS | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | 6 |
![]() | • | GS | × | GS | GS | × | GS | GS | • | QF | GS | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | 22 |
![]() | × | • | × | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | GS | • | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | TBD | 4 |
![]() | • | • | • | • | • | × | • | • | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | × | × | × | × | TBD | 3 |
![]() | × | GS | × | • | × | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | × | • | × | × | • | • | • | TBD | 10 |
Team | 1985 ![]() (16) | 1987 ![]() (16) | 1989 ![]() (16) | 1991 ![]() (16) | 1993 ![]() (16) | 1995 ![]() (16) | 1997 ![]() (16) | 1999 ![]() (16) | 2001 ![]() (16) | 2003 ![]() (16) | 2005 ![]() (16) | 2007 ![]() (24) | 2009 ![]() (24) | 2011 ![]() (24) | 2013 ![]() (24) | 2015 ![]() (24) | 2017 ![]() (24) | 2019 ![]() (24) | 2023 ![]() (24) | 2025 ![]() (48) | 2026 ![]() (48) | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 | • | • | TBD | TBD | 1 |
Nation | ![]() 1985 | ![]() 1986 | ![]() 1988 | ![]() 1990 | ![]() 1992 | ![]() 1994 | ![]() 1996 | ![]() 1998 | ![]() 2000 | ![]() 2002 | ![]() 2004 | ![]() 2006 | ![]() 2008 | ![]() 2010 | ![]() 2012 | ![]() 2014 | ![]() 2016 | ![]() 2018 | ![]() 2023 | ![]() 2025 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | × | GS | • | • | GS | • | • | GS | GS | × | GS | GS | DQ | • | • | × | • | • | • | TBD | 6 |
![]() | • | • | • | GS | • | • | GS | • | • | QF | GS | • | GS | • | GS | • | GS | QF | GS | TBD | 9 |
![]() | • | × | • | • | • | × | × | • | GS | × | • | GS | • | • | • | GS | × | • | • | TBD | 3 |
![]() | × | × | × | × | • | × | × | • | • | GS | × | • | • | • | • | • | × | × | • | TBD | 1 |
Team | 2002 ![]() (12) | 2004 ![]() (15) | 2006 ![]() (8) | 2007 ![]() (8) | 2009 ![]() (8) | 2011 ![]() (6) | 2013 ![]() (6) | 2015 ![]() (8) | 2017 ![]() (8) | 2019 ![]() (8) | 2024 ![]() (8) | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | GS | QF | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 3 |
![]() | • | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 1 |
Team | ![]() 2008 (16) | ![]() 2010 (16) | ![]() 2012 (16) | ![]() 2014 (16) | ![]() 2016 (16) | ![]() 2018 (16) | ![]() 2022 (16) | ![]() 2024 (16) | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | • | • | • | • | • | • | GS | • | 1 |
Team | 2005 ![]() (11) | 2007 ![]() (6) | 2009 ![]() (8) | 2011 ![]() (6) | 2013 ![]() (12) | 2015 ![]() (8) | 2017 ![]() (8) | 2019 ![]() (8) | 2024 ![]() (8) | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | GS | × | × | × | × | • | GS | GS | • | 3 |
![]() | GS | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 1 |
Rankings are calculated by FIFA.
Men's national teams
| Leading men's team: ![]() | Women's national teams
| Leading women's team: ![]() |
By number of goals(Players with at least 20 goals)
| By country(only highest goalscorers from each country)
|
By number of goals(Players with at least 30 goals)
| By country(only highest goalscorers from each country)
|
Association football is one of the four most-popular sports in India, the others being Cricket,Kabaddi and Hockey. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recognises the Indian Super League as the national football league of India. The Santosh Trophy is a knock-out competition among Indian states and government institutions.
The Afghanistan national football team is the national football team of Afghanistan and is controlled by the Afghanistan Football Federation. Founded in 1922, they played their first international game against Iran in Kabul, 1941. Afghanistan then joined FIFA in 1948 and the AFC in 1954, as one of the founding members. They play their home games at the Ghazi National Olympic Stadium in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. In 2013, Afghanistan won the 2013 SAFF Championship and earned the "FIFA Fair Play Award". Afghanistan has never qualified for the AFC Asian Cup.
The Maldives national football team represents the Maldives in international football and is controlled by the Football Association of Maldives. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The Sri Lanka national football team represents Sri Lanka in Association football and is administered by Football Federation of Sri Lanka, the governing body of football in Sri Lanka. They have been a member of FIFA since 1952 and a member of AFC since 1954. Sri Lanka's home stadium is the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo. The Sri Lankan team was known as the Ceylon national football team until 1972 when Ceylon was renamed Sri Lanka.
The Pakistan national football team represents Pakistan in men's international football in FIFA-authorized events and is controlled by the Pakistan Football Federation, the governing body for football in Pakistan. Pakistan became a member of FIFA in 1948 and joined the Asian Football Confederation in 1950.
The India women's national football team represents India at women's international football competitions and is governed by the All India Football Federation. Under the global jurisdiction of FIFA and governed in Asia by the AFC. India is also part of the South Asian Football Federation. The team was one of the best in Asia in the mid-1970s to early 1980s, when they became runners-up in the 1979 and the 1983 AFC Women's Asian Cup.
The South Asian Football Federation Championship, is the main subcontinental international association football competition of the men's national football teams governed by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). All seven teams are eligible to compete in tournament.
The India national under-17 football team represents India in international football at the under-17 level. Controlled by the All India Football Federation, the governing body for football in India, the team is part of the Asian Football Confederation and the South Asian Football Federation.
The Bangladesh women's national football team is the women's national association football team of Bangladesh controlled by the Bangladesh Football Federation under the supervision of the women's football committee. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation and has yet to qualify for the World Cup or an AFC Women's Asian Cup finals.
The Pakistan women's national football team is the female representative in international women's football for Pakistan. The team was formed in 2010 and has not yet qualified for the AFC Women's Asian Cup or the FIFA Women's World Cup, but has competed in four editions of the biennial SAFF Women's Championship.
The Bhutan women's national football team represents Bhutan in international women's football. The team is controlled by the governing body for football in Bhutan, the Bhutan Football Federation, which is currently a member of the Asian Football Federation and the regional body the South Asian Football Federation.
The SAFF Women's Championship, also called the South Asian Football Federation Women's Cup, is a competition for women's national football teams governed by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). All seven members are eligible to participate in the tournament.
The Bangladesh U-17 national football team, is a youth football team operated under the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF). The team would represent Bangladesh in the AFC U-17 Championship, SAFF U-16 Championship, FIFA U-17 World Cup as well as any other under-17, under-16 & under-15 international football tournaments.
The Bangladesh national under-20 football team represents Bangladesh in international youth football competitions in SAFF U-20 Championship, AFC U-20 Championship and FIFA U-20 World Cup, as well as any other under-20, under-19 & under-18 international football tournaments. The team is operated under the Bangladesh Football Federation.
The Indian women's national under-17 football team represents India in international women's under-17 football. The team is controlled by the governing body for football in India, the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The federation is currently a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the regional South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).
The 2016 SAFF Women's Championship will be the fourth edition of the SAFF Women's Championship, the biennial international women's football championship contested by the national teams of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). The tournament will take place in India from 26 December 2016 to 4 January 2017, after the country was awarded hosting rights in January 2016. This will be the first time India will have hosted the SAFF Women's Championship.
The 2019 SAFF Women's Championship was the 5th edition of the SAFF Women's Championship, the biennial international women's football championship contested by the national teams of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). Initially, scheduled from 17 to 26 December 2018 in Sri Lanka, the competition was rescheduled, as Sri Lanka withdrew as hosts. Afterwards, it was scheduled to be held in 2019 from 12 to 22 March and to be hosted by Nepal.
The 2022 SAFF U-20 Championship was the 4th edition of the SAFF U-20 Championship, an international football competition for men's under-18 national teams organized by South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). India was the hosts of the tournament, held between 25 July and 5 August 2022.
The Sri Lanka women's national under-20 football team is the national under-20 team of Sri Lanka that represents the Sri Lanka in international football competitions including the SAFF U-18 Women's Championship, the AFC U-19 Women's Championship and the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, as well as any other under-20 international football tournaments. The team is governed by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka and is a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The 2023 SAFF U-19 Championship was the 5th edition of the SAFF U-19 Championship, an international football competition for men's under-19 national teams organized by South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). It took place from 21–30 September 2023 in Kathmandu, Nepal.
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