Press Release

Aug. 1, 2026 | THIMPHU

The road to the TECNO SAFF Championship Bangladesh 2026 took a significant step forward on Saturday as the tournament’s official draw ceremony was held in Thimphu, Bhutan, setting the stage for another exciting edition of South Asia’s premier international football competition.

The draw ceremony was organized following the SAFF Ordinary Congress 2026 and brought together senior representatives from the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), FIFA, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), along with presidents and officials from the federation’s member associations.

The official draw was conducted by SAFF General Secretary Purushottam Kattel, Bhutan Football Federation President Dasho Ugen Tsechup, and Rezwanul Hoque, CEO of Ismartu Technology BD Limited, representing tournament title sponsor TECNO Mobile Bangladesh.

According to the draw, host nation Bangladesh was placed in Group A alongside Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan, while Group B will feature India, Maldives, and Pakistan, creating the prospect of several high-profile regional clashes.

The championship is scheduled to be held in Bangladesh from November 4 to November 17, 2026, with participating nations now turning their attention to final preparations for the tournament.

The successful staging of the draw ceremony in Thimphu marks the beginning of the final countdown to the TECNO SAFF Championship Bangladesh 2026, a tournament expected to showcase the growth and rising competitiveness of football across the South Asian region.