SAFF – South Asian Football Federation

SAFF holds Marketing and Communications Committee Meeting

Meghla Rani Roy bags Best Goal Keeper award of the SAFF U17 Women’s Championship 2025

Anushka Kumari bags Highest Goal Scorer award of SAFF U17 Women’s Championship 2025

Abhista Basnett bags Most Valuable Player award of SAFF U17 Women’s Championship 2025

SAFF holds first ever competition committee meeting

Bhutan Football Federation celebrates its 25th year as affiliated member of FIFA. The landmark occasion was marked by a series of events, including the award ceremony.

All Nepal Football Association inaugurates FIFA Football For Schools programme.

We are absolutely delighted to see our teams compete against the heavy weights in Asia.

Members Association

Raising Standards and Bridging Nations United by South Asian Football

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Football Federation

Bhutan

Bhutan Football Federation

India

All India Football Federation

Maldives

Football Association of Maldives

Nepal

All Nepal Football Federation

Pakistan

Pakistan Football Federation

Srilanka

Football Federation of Sri Lanka

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April 24, 2025

15th SAFF Championship to be staged in 2026

Press Release
24 April 2025 | Dhaka

The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) has remained steadfast in its mission to develop football across the South Asian region since its inception. Through organizing competitions across various categories and conducting educational programs to empower stakeholders, SAFF continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to the growth of our beloved sport.

In line with this vision, SAFF had initially planned to host the prestigious SAFF Championship in a home-and-away format this year. Preparations were underway to make this possible. However, after careful consideration and consultation with our Member Associations and strategic partner SportFive, it was concluded that additional arrangements are necessary to ensure the smooth and successful execution of the tournament.

As a result, SAFF has made the decision to postpone the SAFF Championship to 2026. This will allow all stakeholders and Member Associations ample time to prepare and deliver the event in a truly grand and memorable fashion.

Given that 2026 is also a FIFA World Cup year, special attention will be paid to selecting an appropriate timeline and venue for the SAFF Championship to ensure maximum participation and visibility.

We kindly ask for the understanding and support of our stakeholders, fans, media, and Member Associations as we work towards organizing a flawless and prestigious tournament in 2026.

August 30, 2025

SAFF Hosts First-Ever Competition Committee Meeting

Press Release

30 August 2025 | Thimphu

The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) successfully convened its first Competition Committee meeting in Thimphu, Bhutan, marking a significant milestone in the region’s football development efforts.

Held in the picturesque capital of Bhutan, the meeting brought together all members of the competition committee. The committee discussed strategic planning and operational frameworks for upcoming regional competitions, with a focus on enhancing the quality, consistency, and professionalism of SAFF tournaments.

The meeting was chaired by Sundar Narsingh Joshi, SAFF Vice President and the chairman of the committee. The collaborative spirit and shared commitment to elevating South Asian football were evident throughout the discussions.

This inaugural meeting also emphasized the importance of transparency, inclusivity, and innovation in competition management. Participants expressed their appreciation for Bhutan’s warm hospitality and the SAFF’s initiative in organizing the event.

The outcomes of the meeting will play a crucial role in shaping the future of SAFF competitions, ensuring they meet international standards and provide meaningful opportunities for players, officials, and fans across the region.

September 19, 2025

Five Clubs to Compete in Inaugural SAFF Women’s Club Championship

Press Release
19 September 2025 | Dhaka

The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) is set to host the first-ever SAFF Women’s Club Championship in Nepal from 5 to 20 December 2025.

Five clubs will compete for regional glory in this landmark tournament:

Narsin Sports Academy (Bangladesh)
Transports United Ladies FC (Bhutan)
East Bengal FC (India)
APF Football Club (Nepal)
Karachi City Football Club (Pakistan)

This championship marks a historic milestone—not only for South Asia but also across the five Regional Associations of Asia—as SAFF becomes the first to organize a women’s club competition at this level.

“This is a historic competition, as SAFF will be the first Regional Association to host a women’s club championship among the five Regional Associations of Asia,” said SAFF General Secretary Purushottam Kattel, adding. “The recent progress of women’s national teams in South Asia is very encouraging. Member Associations like Bangladesh and India are reaching the finals of AFC competitions, while others have shown strong performances in AFC qualifiers. Through this championship, we aim to provide a more competitive environment for our Member Associations and celebrate the growing success of women’s football in the region. We hope the two weeks in Kathmandu will be a true celebration of that progress.”

The tournament will follow a league-cum-knockout format, with the top two teams advancing to the final.

September 22, 2025

SAFF official website revamped

22 Sept. 2025 (Dhaka)

Dear Readers/Visitors,

Greetings from the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF)!

As you are navigating the SAFF website, you will notice that it has been revamped. We want this website in line with the global trend of storytelling through visually engaging content.

The goal of the SAFF’s refurbished official website is to establish a more modern and sophisticated presence and be in touch with you as well as all the current generation of passionate fans, players and all stakeholders.

As part of our commitment to good governance and timely communication, we have ensured that all federation’s activities — whether on the pitch or at the secretariat — are properly documented and showcased. Nothing goes unnoticed.
This newly launched website serves as a comprehensive archive of our past events and official documents, offering insight into the federation’s plans and ongoing initiatives.

We have also made a concerted effort to highlight the activities of our Member Associations through compelling stories, which now form an integral part of our content strategy. You can have access to the activities of our SAFF Member Associations by clicking the link of their respective official websites.

We kindly invite all our esteemed stakeholders to explore the website and share your valuable feedback and suggestions for future improvements. You are also a part of this transformative journey. Your feedback and suggestions can be sent to info@saffederation.org

We sincerely hope the website proves to be a useful resource for all our stakeholders.

Editor

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About SAFF

Teaming Up Together, Taking the South Asian Football Forward

In 1997, with the aim of advancing South Asian football to a higher level and of uniting the people of South Asia through this beautiful game, SAFF – South Asian Football Federation was formed. Six nations, Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka came together, united by the love of football, to form the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). Today, it has become a name for the festival of South Asian football culture, which is celebrated from time to time.

The SAFF Secretariat currently operates from Dhaka, Bangladesh. The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) is the unity of south asian countries playing football and is a part of the larger Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Over the years, SAFF grew, welcoming Bhutan in 2000 and expanding its influence across the region. Through its premier SAFF Championship, along with men’s, women’s, and youth tournaments, it has given South Asian football global recognition. From its early days under P. P. Lakshman, SAFF has proved the true meaning of its motto “Unity in Strength.” As the tournaments have shown, football can become a force that brings nations together, turning rivalries into respect and borders into bonds.

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Freezing the Action, Framing the Glory Captured Moments of the Turf