JoannaCostantino at 18:23, 5 May 2026

2026-05-05T18:23:18Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date= March 2026}}
{{Infobox international football competition
| tourney_name = SAFF Women's Championship
| year = 2026
| image = Logo of 2026 SAFF Womens Championship.png
| size = 280px
| caption =
| other_titles =
| country = India
| dates = 25 May – 5 June 2026
| num_teams = 6
| sub-confederations = 1
| venues = [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Margao)|Fatorda Stadium]]
| city = [[Margao]], [[Goa]]
| champion_other =
| count =
| second_other =
| third_other =
| matches =
| goals =
| attendance =
| top_scorer =
| player =
| goalkeeper =
| fair_play =
| prevseason = [[2024 SAFF Women's Championship|2024]]
| nextseason = [[2028 SAFF Women's Championship|2028]]
}}

The '''2026 SAFF Women's Championship''' will be the 8th edition of the [[SAFF Women's Championship]], an international [[association football|football]] competition for women's national teams from the [[South Asia]] region, organized by the [[South Asian Football Federation]] (SAFF). The 2026 edition in India is the 8th edition of this competition. The tournament is scheduled to be held in [[India]] from 25 May to 5 June 2026 at [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Margao)|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]] in [[Margao]], Goa.<ref name="TOI 1">{{cite news |last1=Mergulhao |first1=Marcus|title= Goa set to host SAFF Women's Championship |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/goa-set-to-host-saff-womens-championship/articleshow/129520730.cms |access-date=22 April 2026 |work=[[The Times of India]] |agency=Times News Network (TNN) |date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260313160532/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/goa-set-to-host-saff-womens-championship/articleshow/129520730.cms |archive-date=13 March 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Bangladesh women's national football team|Bangladesh]] are the defending champions.<ref name="UNB 1">{{cite news |title=Bangladesh clinches second consecutive SAFF Women’s Championship with 2-1 win over Nepal |url=https://unb.com.bd/category/Sports/bangladesh-triumphs-in-saff-womens-championship-2024-with-2-1-win-over-nepal/146010 |access-date=22 April 2026 |work=[[United News of Bangladesh]] |date=30 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241107073433/https://unb.com.bd/category/Sports/bangladesh-triumphs-in-saff-womens-championship-2024-with-2-1-win-over-nepal/146010 |archive-date=7 November 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Participating teams==
The following six teams confirmed their participation in the tournament. [[Pakistan women's national football team|Pakistan]] skipped this edition in [[India]] due to strenuous relations with the hosts.<ref name="TOI 2">{{cite news |last1=Mergulhao |first1=Marcus|title=Pakistan to skip SAFF Women's Championship. |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/pakistan-to-skip-saff-womens-championship-in-india/articleshow/130045695.cms |access-date=22 April 2026 |work=[[The Times of India]] |agency=Times News Network (TNN) |date=6 April 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260417002654/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/pakistan-to-skip-saff-womens-championship-in-india/articleshow/130045695.cms |archive-date=17 April 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! Country
! Appearance
! Previous {{nobr|best performance}}
! data-sort-type="number"|{{nobr|[[FIFA Women's World Ranking|FIFA ranking]]<br/>(April 2026)}}
|-
| {{nobr|{{fbw|IND}} '''(Host)'''}} ||align=center|8th || '''Champions''' ([[2010 SAFF Women's Championship|2010]], [[2012 SAFF Women's Championship|2012]], [[2014 SAFF Women's Championship|2014]], [[2016 SAFF Women's Championship|2016]], [[2019 SAFF Women's Championship|2019]]) || align="center" | {{nobr|{{FIFA Women's World Rankings|IND}}}}
|-
| {{fbw|NEP}} ||align=center|8th || Runners-up ([[2010 SAFF Women's Championship|2010]], [[2012 SAFF Women's Championship|2012]], [[2014 SAFF Women's Championship|2014]], [[2019 SAFF Women's Championship|2019]], [[2022 SAFF Women's Championship|2022]], [[2024 SAFF Women's Championship|2024]]) || align="center" | {{nobr|{{FIFA Women's World Rankings|NEP}}}}
|-
| {{fbw|BAN}} ||align=center|8th || '''Champions''' ([[2022 SAFF Women's Championship|2022]], [[2024 SAFF Women's Championship|2024]]) || align="center" | {{nobr|{{FIFA Women's World Rankings|BAN}}}}
|-
| {{fbw|SRI}} ||align=center|8th || Semi-finals ([[2012 SAFF Women's Championship|2012]], [[2014 SAFF Women's Championship|2014]], [[2019 SAFF Women's Championship|2019]]) ||align=center| {{nobr|{{FIFA Women's World Rankings|SRI}}}}
|-
| {{fbw|BHU}} ||align=center|8th || Semi-finals ([[2022 SAFF Women's Championship|2022]], [[2024 SAFF Women's Championship|2024]]) ||align=center| {{nobr|{{FIFA Women's World Rankings|BHU}}}}
|-
| {{fbw|MDV}} ||align=center|8th || Semi-finals ([[2016 SAFF Women's Championship|2016]]) ||align=center| {{nobr|{{FIFA Women's World Rankings|MDV}}}}

|}

==Venue==
All matches will be held at [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Margao)|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]].<ref name="TOI 1"/>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin:auto;"
! width="20px" height="2px" colspan="2"| [[Margao]]
| rowspan=4 width="20px" | {{Location map+ |India|float=center |width=300 |places=
{{Location map~ | India | lat=15.28 | long=73.96 | label='''[[Margao]]''' |position=left}}
}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;" height="2px"| [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Margao)|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" height="2px"| Capacity: '''16,200'''
|-
| [[File:Margao Stadium.jpg|center|alt=Margao Stadium outside image|250px]]
|}

==Draw==
The draw ceremony of the tournament was held at the [[South Asian Football Federation|SAFF Secretariat]] in [[Dhaka]], Bangladesh on 22 April 2026. The seeding for the draw was done in accordance with the latest [[FIFA Women's World Ranking|FIFA Rankings]] issued on April 21. India and Nepal were placed in Pot 1; Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were placed in Pot 2; and Bhutan and Maldives were placed in Pot 3. Finally, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan were drawn in Group A, and the host was drawn along with Bangladesh and the Maldives in Group B.<ref name="AIFF 1">{{cite web |title=Hosts India drawn with Bangladesh and Maldives in SAFF Women's Championship 2026 |url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/hosts-india-drawn-with-bangladesh-and-maldives-in-saff-womens-championship-2026 |publisher=[[All India Football Federation]] |access-date=22 April 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260422091914/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/hosts-india-drawn-with-bangladesh-and-maldives-in-saff-womens-championship-2026 |archive-date=22 April 2026 |date=22 April 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Pots===
{| class="wikitable"
! width="25%" |Pot 1
! width="25%" |Pot 2
! width="25%" |Pot 3
|-
|{{fbw|IND}} '''(H)'''<br>{{fbw|NEP}}
|{{fbw|BAN}}<br>{{fbw|SRI}}
|{{fbw|BHU}}<br>{{fbw|MDV}}
|}

=== Result ===
{|
|valign=top|
{| class="wikitable"
|+[[#Group A|Group A]]
!{{Tooltip|Pos|Position}}
! width="175" |Team
|-
| align="center" |A1
|{{fbw|NEP}}
|-
| align="center" |A2
|{{fbw|SRI}}
|-
| align="center" |A3
|{{fbw|BHU}}
|}
|
|
|
{| class="wikitable"
|+[[#Group B|Group B]]
!{{Tooltip|Pos|Position}}
! width="175" |Team
|-
| align="center" |B1
|{{fbw|IND}}
|-
| align="center" |B2
|{{fbw|BAN}}
|-
| align="center" |B3
|{{fbw|MDV}}
|-
|}
|}

== Match officials ==
;Referees
Not yet selected.
;Assistant referees
Not yet selected.

== Group stage ==
*All matches will be played in [[India]].
*Times listed are [[UTC+05:30|UTC+5:30]].
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!colspan=2|Key to colours in group tables
|-
|bgcolor=#ccffcc style="width: 20px;"|
|align=left|Group winners and runners-up advance to the Semi-finals
|}

=== Group A ===
{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=football
|section=Group A
|teamwidth=180
|update=future|start_date=25 May 2026
|source= [https://www.sofascore.com/football/tournament/asia/saff-womens-championship/23499#id:93527,tab:standings Sofascore]

|team_order = BHU, NEP, SRI
|result1=KO |result2=KO

|win_NEP=0 |draw_NEP=0 |loss_NEP=0 |gf_NEP=0 |ga_NEP=0
|win_BHU=0 |draw_BHU=0 |loss_BHU=0 |gf_BHU=0 |ga_BHU=0
|win_SRI=0 |draw_SRI=0 |loss_SRI=0 |gf_SRI=0 |ga_SRI=0

|name_NEP={{fbw|NEP}}
|name_SRI={{fbw|SRI}}
|name_BHU={{fbw|BHU}}

|res_col_header=Q
|col_KO=green1
|text_KO=Advance to the {{nobr|[[#Knockout_stage|Knockout stage]]}}

|class_rules=1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots
}}

{{#invoke:football box|main
| id = Bhutan vs Nepal
| date = {{Start date|2026|05|25|df=y}}
| time = 16:30
| team1 = {{fbw-rt|BHU}}
| score =
| report =
| team2 = {{fbw|NEP}}
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
| stadium = [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Margao)|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]]
| location = [[Margao]], [[Goa]]
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
----
{{#invoke:football box|main
| id = Bhutan vs Nepal
| date = {{Start date|2026|05|28|df=y}}
| time = 16:30
| team1 = {{fbw-rt|SRI}}
| score =
| report =
| team2 = {{fbw|BHU}}
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
| stadium = [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Margao)|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]]
| location = [[Margao]], [[Goa]]
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
----
{{#invoke:football box|main
| id = Nepal vs Sri Lanka
| date = {{Start date|2026|05|31|df=y}}
| time = 16:30
| team1 = {{fbw-rt|NEP}}
| score =
| report =
| team2 = {{fbw|SRI}}
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
| stadium = [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Margao)|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]]
| location = [[Margao]], [[Goa]]
| attendance =
| referee =
}}

=== Group B ===
<onlyinclude>
{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=football
|section=Group B
|teamwidth=180
|update=future|start_date=25 May 2026
|source= [https://www.sofascore.com/football/tournament/asia/saff-womens-championship/23499#id:93527,tab:standings Sofascore]

|team_order = BAN, IND, MDV
|result1=KO |result2=KO

|win_IND=0 |draw_IND=0 |loss_IND=0 |gf_IND=0 |ga_IND=0 |status_IND=H
|win_BAN=0 |draw_BAN=0 |loss_BAN=0 |gf_BAN=0 |ga_BAN=0
|win_MDV=0 |draw_MDV=0 |loss_MDV=0 |gf_MDV=0 |ga_MDV=0

|name_IND={{fbw|IND}}
|name_BAN={{fbw|BAN}}
|name_MDV={{fbw|MDV}}

|res_col_header=Q
|col_KO=green1
|text_KO=Advance to the {{nobr|[[#Knockout_stage|Knockout stage]]}}

|class_rules=1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots
}}</onlyinclude>

{{#invoke:football box|main
| id = Maldives vs India
| date = {{Start date|2026|05|25|df=y}}
| time = 19:30
| team1 = {{fbw-rt|MDV}}
| score =
| report =
| team2 = {{fbw|IND}}
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
| stadium = [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Margao)|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]]
| location = [[Margao]], [[Goa]]
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
----
{{#invoke:football box|main
| id = Bangladesh vs Maldives
| date = {{Start date|2026|05|29|df=y}}
| time = 19:30
| team1 = {{fbw-rt|BAN}}
| score =
| report =
| team2 = {{fbw|MDV}}
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
| stadium = [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Margao)|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]]
| location = [[Margao]], [[Goa]]
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
----
{{#invoke:football box|main
| id = India vs Bangladesh
| date = {{Start date|2026|05|31|df=y}}
| time = 19:30
| team1 = {{fbw-rt|IND}}
| score =
| report =
| team2 = {{fbw|BAN}}
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
| stadium = [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Margao)|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]]
| location = [[Margao]], [[Goa]]
| attendance =
| referee =
}}

== Knockout stage ==
*In the knockout stages, if a match finished goalless at the end of normal playing time, [[Overtime (Association football)|extra time]] would have been played (two periods of 15 minutes each) and followed, if necessary, by a [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-out]] to determine the winner.
===Bracket===
{{#invoke:RoundN|N4
|style=white-space:nowrap
|columns=2|bold_winner=high
|RD1=[[#Semi-finals|Semi-finals]]
|RD2=[[#Final|Final]]

|3 June – [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Margao)|Goa]]
|Winner Group A||Runner-up Group B|
|3 June – [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Margao)|Goa]]
|Winner Group B||Runner-up Group A|
|6 June – [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Margao)|Goa]]
|Winner SF 1||Winner SF 2|
}}

=== Semi-finals ===
{{#invoke:football box|main
| date = {{Start date|2026|06|03|df=y}}
| time = 16:00
| team1 = Champion of Group A
| score =
| aet =
| report =
| team2 = Runner-up of Group B
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
| penaltyscore =
| penalties1 =
| penalties2 =
| stadium = [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Margao)|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]]
| location = [[Margao]], [[Goa]]
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
----
{{#invoke:football box|main
| date = {{Start date|2026|06|03|df=y}}
| time = 20:00
| team1 = Champion of Group B
| score =
| aet =
| report =
| team2 = Runner-up of Group A
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
| penaltyscore =
| penalties1 =
| penalties2 =
| stadium = [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Margao)|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]]
| location = [[Margao]], [[Goa]]
| attendance =
| referee =
}}

=== Final ===
{{#invoke:football box|main
| date = {{Start date|2026|06|05|df=y}}
| time = 18:30
| team1 = Winner SF1
| score =
| aet =
| report =
| team2 = Winner SF2
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
| penaltyscore =
| penalties1 =
| penalties2 =
| stadium = [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Margao)|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]]
| location = [[Margao]], [[Goa]]
| attendance =
| referee =
}}

==Winner==
{{winners|fbw|8th SAFF Women's Championship 2026|TBD|th}}

== Statistics ==
=== Goalscorers ===
TBD
=== Awards ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:auto;"
!Most Valuable Player
!Top Scorer
!Goalkeeper
!Fair Play
|-
|TBD
|TBD
|TBD
|TBD
|}

== Marketing ==
TBD

== Broadcasting ==
{|class="wikitable sortable" text-align:left;"
|-
! scope=col|Country
! scope=col|Broadcaster
! scope="col" class=unsortable|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|{{flagcountry|BAN}}
|[[T Sports]]
|
|-
|{{flagcountry|IND}}
|[[Fancode]]
|
|-
|{{flagcountry|MDV}}
|TBD
|
|-
|{{flagcountry|NEP}}
|TBD
|
|-
|{{flagcountry|SRI}}
|TBD
|
|-
|{{flagcountry|BHU}}
|TBD
|
|}

==See also==
*[[2026 SAFF Championship]]
*[[2026 SAFF Club Championship]]

==References==
<references />
== External links ==
* [https://saffederation.org/match-results/?jsf=epro-loop-builder&tax=match-results-year:119;match-result-championship:90;match-result-gender:100 Official website]
{{portal bar|Asia|India|Sports|Association football|Women's association football}}
{{SAFF Women's Championship}}
{{2025–26 in Asian women's football (AFC)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:SAFF Women's Championship}}

[[Category:SAFF Women's Championship]]
[[Category:2026 in Asian women's international football|SAFF Women's Championship]]
[[Category:SAFF Women's Championship|2026]]
[[Category:2026 in Indian sport]]
[[Category:Women's international association football competitions hosted by India]]
[[Category:May 2026 sports events in Asia]]
[[Category:June 2026 sports events in Asia]]

2026 SAFF Women's Championship - Revision history

JoannaCostantino at 18:23, 5 May 2026