Bangladesh's SAFF match schedule finalised

The match schedule for Bangladesh in the 2026 SAFF Championship to be held in Dhaka has been published. According to the schedule, hosts Bangladesh will begin their campaign in the tournament with a match against Sri Lanka on November 4. The two-week event will run from November 4 to 17. All matches will be held at the National Stadium in Dhaka.

In the draw held in Thimphu, Bhutan, in early August, Bangladesh was placed in Group 'A'. Sri Lanka and Bhutan are alongside the hosts. Nepal was not included in the draw due to a FIFA ban, and as the ban remained in place subsequently, it was decided to hold this year's competition with six teams. Group 'B' includes defending champions India, Maldives and Pakistan.

Bangladesh's first match is against Sri Lanka on November 4. The hosts will then face Bhutan in their final group match on November 10. In the other Group 'A' match, Sri Lanka and Bhutan will play on November 7. In Group 'B', India and Pakistan will meet on November 5, while Pakistan and Maldives will face each other on November 8. India will play Maldives on November 11.

After the group stage, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. The two semi-finals will be held on November 14. The 15th SAFF Championship will then conclude with the final on November 17. The tournament is returning to Bangladesh after eight years. The SAFF Championship was last held in Dhaka in 2018.

This edition holds special importance for Bangladesh. In the third edition of the SAFF Championship held in Dhaka in 2003, Bangladesh won their only title by beating Maldives in a tiebreaker. Since then, the red-and-green team has not been able to lift the trophy. This time, Bangladesh will aim to end their long wait by making the most of home advantage.

It may be mentioned that the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) had already confirmed the dates and venue for this year's SAFF Championship. The entire competition will be held in Dhaka from November 4 to 17.