The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) has announced that Bangladesh will be hosting the 2026 SAFF Championship from 4th November to 17th November.
The biggest tournament of SAFF's Men's Division was to be held in September, with SAFF deciding in May to delay it to November.
This was done so that India, the largest country in SAFF, can participate in the FIFA ASEAN Cup. Pakistan has also gotten the opportunity to compete in said tournament.
Previously, SAFF organized the cup to be held from 21st September to 6th October. The first FIFA ASEAN Cup was set to be held on those dates as well.
The SAFF Championship is being held after a two-year hiatus, and will start six days before FIFA's international break. FIFA's international break period will be from 9th November to 17th November.
Of the seven SAFF nations, Nepal has been suspended by FIFA.
SAFF has decided to hold the official logo launch ceremony for the championship on Saturday at Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The team draw ceremony will be held at Thimphu, Bhutan on 1st August. It is likely Nepal's suspension will stand even then.
Steps were taken to suspend Nepal due to allegations that the decisions of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) were being unduly influenced.
Even if the cases see a conclusion by November, there is no guarantee Nepal will take part in SAFF's biggest tournament.
SAFF's General Secretary Purushottam Kattel describes the date announcement of SAFF's biggest tournament being close to the end of the World Cup as an important one during a time football supporters from all over South Asia are experiencing a lot of joy.
Bangladeshi football supporters received a lot of attention from world media during the World Cup. The nation has been described as having an exceptional level of excitement when supporting Argentina in the World Cup final.
Kattel said that Bangladesh's excitement and the announcement of the SAFF Championship being held in said country is cause for happiness.
"Making this announcement just days after the World Cup came to an end is something that was done in a time South Asian football supporters are in high spirits," said Kattel in an interview given to SAFF's website.
"Having Bangladesh host the championship is a really good thing in a time where interest in football in Bangladesh has been increasing at a rapid pace. We hope Bangladesh will host a successful and colorful championship that will be remembered in the hearts of players and supporters."
Obstacles for some teams as the championship is held before FIFA's international break
Teams with a high number of players playing outside their nation will come across issues if the championship is held ahead of FIFA's window, especially Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The three countries have squads built upon players who play in various European countries. These players will only get a club release to play for their national teams during FIFA's official period.
Sri Lanka initially accepted the invitation to play in the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament held in Maldives during early June. However, they had to rescind their name due to obstacles faced in players acquiring club releases until the tournament ends according to their media.
The final match of the Diamond Jubilee was held on 10th June. FIFA's international break ended on 9th June. And so, Sri Lanka decided not to take part in the tournament due to the release period expiring for some of their players before the final.
Aside from FIFA's international breaks, no federation has the right to reserve specific players for their national teams. If clubs demand they take players after that period ends, the national team does not have the right to hold the players.
If the tournament were held within FIFA's window, SAFF would have to hold the tournament in a group format. Previous SAFF tournaments held in that format would finish in around 10 days. However, tournaments would previously start in a league format, where teams would have the chance to play many matches.
SAFF has not made any official comments regarding the tournament format.
The last time Bangladesh hosted the SAFF Championship was in 2018. The tournament was played at the Dhaka National Stadium, at the time known as Bangabandhu National Stadium, with Maldives claiming the title.
