Photo: Collected
The SAFF Championship gets under way today. In the opening match at the National Stadium, arch-rivals India and Pakistan will face each other at 3:30pm.
Fans’ interest, however, will centre on Bangladesh’s match. In the day’s second match, the hosts take on Bhutan at 8pm. T Sports will broadcast the match live.
Bangladesh have been placed in Group ‘B’ at this edition of SAFF. In their second group-stage match, Topu Barman, Hamza Choudhury and co will play Sri Lanka on 11 November.
Six teams are playing in two groups at this edition. The top two teams from each group will go to the semi-finals, followed by the final. The tournament will end with the final at the National Stadium on 17 November.
Background
Desh Rupantor reported on 1 August that in the draw held in Thimphu, Bhutan, hosts Bangladesh were placed in Group ‘A’ with Sri Lanka and Bhutan, while India, Pakistan and the Maldives went into Group ‘B’. The original report places Bangladesh in Group ‘B’ — the sources differ on this.
According to a Bangla Tribune report of 4 August, the SAFF Championship was last held in Dhaka in 2018.
By the numbers
Jugantor’s report of 1 August said this is the 15th edition of the SAFF Championship, and Bangladesh go in aiming to end a 23-year title drought on home soil.
Sources
Background sources: Desh Rupantor, 1 August 2026; Bangla Tribune, 4 August 2026; Jugantor, 1 August 2026
