SAFF Championship 2026: Bangladesh’s Full Schedule, Groups & How to Watch

Bangladesh is hosting the SAFF Championship 2026, and for the home crowd this one carries extra weight – it’s the first time since 2018 that South Asia’s biggest football tournament has come back to Dhaka. The SAFF Championship 2026 runs from 4 to 17 November at the National Stadium, with Bangladesh drawn into Group A alongside Sri Lanka and Bhutan – and, pending a FIFA ruling on their federation’s suspension, Nepal. This guide covers the full fixture schedule, the group draw, what’s confirmed about venues and broadcasting, and exactly how to watch every match live in Bangladesh.

Quick answer: The SAFF Championship 2026 runs 4-17 November 2026, hosted entirely in Dhaka. Bangladesh play in Group A with Sri Lanka and Bhutan (Nepal’s place is pending FIFA clearance), while defending champions India face Pakistan and Maldives in Group B. Semi-finals are 14 November and the final is 17 November.

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SAFF Championship 2026

Tournament Overview: Dates, Venue & Format

The SAFF Championship 2026 is a 17-day tournament running from 4 to 17 November 2026, played entirely at the National Stadium in Dhaka (capacity 22,400). Organisers had earlier floated splitting matches across a shortlist that included the Bashundhara Kings Arena and a venue in Sylhet, but as things stand the whole tournament is set to be played at the single Dhaka venue, with the group stage feeding into semi-finals on 14 November and the final on 17 November.

Tecno Mobile is the tournament’s official sponsor, and marketing rights are held by Sportfive through 2029 – a sign the South Asian Football Federation is treating this edition as a bigger commercial property than past ones. Defending champions India arrive as the most successful side in the competition’s history, with nine SAFF titles overall after winning the 2023 edition.

SAFF Championship 2026 Groups

The draw for the SAFF Championship 2026 was held in Thimphu, Bhutan on 1 August 2026, splitting the field into two groups:

GroupTeams
Group ABangladesh (host), Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal (pending FIFA clearance)
Group BIndia (defending champions), Pakistan, Maldives

Group B is the headline draw regardless of Bangladesh’s own results – India open their campaign against Pakistan on 5 November before facing Maldives on 11 November, and an India-Pakistan football fixture reliably pulls cross-border attention well beyond the host nation. Bangladesh’s own group-stage kickoff times against Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and (if cleared) Nepal hadn’t been released at the time of writing; the Bangladesh Football Federation and SAFF typically confirm the full day-by-day fixture list in the weeks after the draw, and we’ll update this schedule as soon as they do.

Ticket sales for the group-stage matches at the National Stadium are expected to open once the day-by-day schedule is locked in – historically, Bangladesh’s home matches in SAFF tournaments have sold out quickly, and organisers are likely to prioritise Bangladesh’s own fixtures and the India-Pakistan meeting for the fastest sell-throughs.

Nepal’s place in Group A depends on FIFA lifting a suspension currently in place on the All Nepal Football Association. If the suspension isn’t resolved in time, Group A will proceed as a three-team group of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan instead.

Bangladesh’s SAFF Championship Hosting History

This is the fourth time Bangladesh has hosted the SAFF Championship, and the history gives the 2026 edition some genuine weight for home fans:

EditionBangladesh’s Result
2003 (Dhaka)Champions – the only time Bangladesh has won the title on home soil
2009 (Dhaka)Hosted after original hosts India withdrew; Bangladesh reached the semi-finals
2018 (Dhaka)Hosted; Maldives won their second title
2026 (Dhaka)Bangladesh’s fourth time hosting – and their first attempt at a second home title since 2003

That 2003 win remains the one Bangladeshi football fans point to whenever this tournament comes up in conversation – it’s the benchmark this squad is chasing on home turf.

How to Watch the SAFF Championship 2026 Live in Bangladesh

Broadcast arrangements for individual countries were still listed as “to be confirmed” as of publication, so treat this section as a starting point rather than the final word – we’ll update it the moment rights are announced. Based on how Bangladesh’s football broadcasts have historically been handled domestically, expect coverage to run through the country’s usual sports channels and apps rather than a brand-new platform.

For the full rundown of which TV channels and streaming apps typically carry live football in Bangladesh – including T Sports, BTV Sports, Toffee, and GTV – see our complete How to Watch Cricket (and Football) Live in Bangladesh guide; the same domestic broadcasters are the most likely home for this coverage once rights are confirmed.

Key Storylines to Watch

A few threads worth following as the SAFF Championship 2026 approaches:

  • Bangladesh’s home advantage – a fourth hosting stint and a shot at matching their lone 2003 title, in front of a crowd at the 22,400-capacity National Stadium.
  • India’s title defence – nine SAFF titles is the benchmark in this competition, and a Group B draw against Pakistan gives India’s campaign an early flashpoint on 5 November.
  • Nepal’s uncertain status – Group A could be a three- or four-team group depending on whether FIFA lifts the suspension on Nepal’s federation in time.
  • Ticket demand in Dhaka – hosting the tournament for the first time since 2018 means a fresh wave of local interest in match tickets and viewing options once dates are locked in.

FAQs

1. When is the SAFF Championship 2026?
The SAFF Championship 2026 runs from 4 to 17 November 2026, hosted entirely in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

2. Which group is Bangladesh in for the SAFF Championship 2026?
Bangladesh are in Group A alongside Sri Lanka and Bhutan, with Nepal’s participation still pending a FIFA ruling on their federation’s suspension.

3. Who are the defending champions of the SAFF Championship?
India, who won the 2023 edition and have lifted the SAFF Championship nine times overall – more than any other nation in the competition.

4. How many times has Bangladesh hosted the SAFF Championship?
This is the fourth time. Bangladesh previously hosted in 2003 (winning the title), 2009, and 2018.

5. Where can I watch the SAFF Championship 2026 live in Bangladesh?
Broadcast rights hadn’t been confirmed at time of writing. Expect coverage through Bangladesh’s usual sports broadcasters – see our streaming guide for the full list of channels and apps.

6. When are the SAFF Championship 2026 semi-finals and final?
The semi-finals are on 14 November 2026, and the final is on 17 November 2026, both played in Dhaka.

Want the bigger picture on what else Bangladeshi sports fans are watching this year? Check out these related guides:

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