The SAFF Championship 2026 squads are locked in, and the 15th edition begins today, 5 November, at the National Stadium in Dhaka.
Six teams will play for South Asia’s regional crown until the final on 17 November: hosts Bangladesh, defending champions India, Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
Nepal is absent because of its FIFA suspension.
This guide covers every squad, group, fixture, kick-off time and streaming detail.
SAFF Championship 2026 Teams
Six national teams made the field. Here is how they line up before kick-off, with FIFA rankings as listed ahead of the tournament.
| Team | FIFA rank | Best SAFF result | Squad size |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 138 | 9-time champions | 28 |
| Maldives | 173 | Champions (2008, 2018) | 24 |
| Bangladesh (hosts) | 181 | Home advantage in Dhaka | 28 |
| Sri Lanka | 183 | Champions (1995) | 28 |
| Bhutan | 192 | Group stage regulars | 23 |
| Pakistan | 198 | Third place (1997) | 28 |
India are the clear favourites on paper. The rankings are close enough in the lower half, though, that almost any group-stage match could swing either way.
India Squad for SAFF Championship 2026
India named a 28-man squad under head coach Naushad Moosa, who also coaches the India U23 side. Bibiano Fernandes is assistant coach, Parshuram Salwadi is goalkeeping coach, and Saifulla is strength and conditioning coach.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers (3) | Arsh Anwer Shaikh, Mohanraj K, Priyansh Dubey |
| Defenders and midfielders (20) | Abdul Rabeeh, Bijoy Varghese, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Khaiminthang Lhungdim, Muhammed Uvais, Nathan Rodrigues, Ronney Kharbudon, Sandip Mandi, Abhishek Suryavanshi, Adison Singh Thokchom, Brison Fernandes, Ebindas Yesudasan, Farukh Choudhary, Macarton Nickson, Manglenthang Kipgen, Nikhil Prabhu, Noufal PN, Ricky John Shabong, Suresh Singh Wangjam |
| Forwards (5) | Irfan Yadwad, Liston Colaco, Muhammad Suhail, Vishnu PV, Suhail Ahmad Bhat |
India are chasing a record 10th SAFF title. Their last one came in 2023, when they beat Kuwait in the final in Bengaluru. Several of these players are also in line for two friendlies against New Zealand later this month.
What to watch: Liston Colaco and Irfan Yadwad lead a fairly young attack. Chinglensana Singh brings experience at the back. Sunil Chhetri is not in this 28.
Bangladesh Squad for SAFF Championship 2026
As hosts, Bangladesh have a 28-player squad and a full National Stadium behind them. They open against Bhutan tonight, then face Sri Lanka on 11 November, both at 8:00 PM local time.
| Mitul Marma | Sujon Hossain | Mehedi Hasan Srabon | Topu Barman |
| Bishwanath Ghosh | Md Saad Uddin | Rahmat Mia | Zidane Alexander Yousuf |
| Tariq Raihan Kazi | Zayyan Ahmed | Md Taj Uddin | Abdullah Omar Sajib |
| Md Sohel Rana | Sohel Rana | Md Ridoy | Hamza Dewan Choudhury |
| Shamit Shome | Syed Quazem Kirmanee Shah | Jamal Bhuyan | Farhaan Ali Wahid |
| Sheikh Morsalin | Rakib Hossain | Foysal Ahmed Fahim | Fahamedul Islam |
| Mohammad Ibrahim | Suki Itofusa | Minhazul Karim Shadin | Mohammad Mahe Khan |
What to watch: Hamza Dewan Choudhury, Shamit Shome and Jamal Bhuyan form a strong midfield core, and Topu Barman anchors the defence. Topu has called the group “really tight,” which is fair given how evenly matched Group A looks.
Pakistan Squad for SAFF Championship 2026
Pakistan are the lowest-ranked team in the field but get the biggest stage on day one: the tournament opener against India. They then play the Maldives on 8 November.
| Saqib Hanif | Hassan Ali | Yousuf Butt | Abdul Rehman |
| Abdullah Iqbal | Ali Khan Niazi | Easah Suliman | Haris Zeb |
| Haseeb Ahmed Khan | Mamoon Moosa Khan | Mohibullah Afridi | Waqar Ehtisham Baloch |
| Junaid Shah | Adil Nabi | Ali Uzair Mahmood | Hayyaan Khattak |
| Tufail Khan Shinwari | Zainul Abideen Ishaque | Muhammad Junaid | Ali Akbar Khan |
| Syed Ali Raza | Abdul Samad Arshad | Alamgir Ghazi | Kaleemullah |
| McKeal Abdullah | Najeebullah | Shayak Dost | Umar Nawaz |
What to watch: With 28 players named, Pakistan have depth. Their best SAFF finish remains third place in 1997, so any group-stage win would be a significant result.
Maldives Squad for SAFF Championship 2026
The Maldives are two-time SAFF champions (2008 and 2018) and a dangerous Group B opponent. They name 24 players.
| Mohamed Ashwan | Hussain Shareef | Mohamed Shafeeu | Samooh Ali |
| Hassan Eenaz | Hussain Sifaau Yoosuf | Ahmed Aiham (Aihu) | Amdhan Ali |
| Thoif Gasim | Ahmed Maaish Rasheed | Ahmed Aiham (Fatho) | Ibrahim Waheed Hassan |
| Ibrahim Aisam | Nisham Mohamed Rasheed | Ahzam Rasheed | Ethan Ibrahim Zaki |
| Ali Hamdhaan | Ibrahim Mahudhee Hussain | Nassah Ibrahim Nasir | Naiz Hassan |
| Ali Fasir | Mohamed Naaim | Muzdhaan Hassan | Abdulla Looth Ibrahim |
What to watch: Two players share the name Ahmed Aiham, listed here as Aihu and Fatho to tell them apart. Ali Fasir is the forward to track.
Sri Lanka Squad for SAFF Championship 2026
Sri Lanka won the SAFF title in 1995 and have a mix of locally based players and overseas-born talent in a 28-man group.
| Sujan Perera | Kavish Fernando | Mohamed Mursith | Mohamed Hasmeer |
| Muhammedhu Munsif | Chalana Chameera | Jude Supan | Jason Thayaparan |
| Geremi Parera | William Thomason | Anujan Rajendram | Claudio Kammerknecht |
| Bharath Suresh | Steven Sakayaradjy | Leon Perera | Adhavan Rajamohan |
| Garrett Kelly | Nil oshan Senthurwasan | Oliver Kelaart | Dillon de Silva |
| Samuel Durrant | Waseem Razeek | Wade Dekkar | Rahul Suresh |
| Muthuccumaru Remiyan | Ayman Zawahir | Regize Canistan | Aman Fizar |
What to watch: Claudio Kammerknecht is a name many fans will recognise at the back. Sri Lanka play Bhutan on 8 November and the hosts on 11 November, so Group A could come down to the final day.
Bhutan Squad for SAFF Championship 2026
Bhutan bring the smallest squad, 23 players, and open the tournament against hosts Bangladesh.
| Lhocho Nima | Tandin Tshewang | Phuntsho Jigme | Tenzin Norbu |
| Deychog Drakar Dorji | Jigman Seltob Dorji | Chencho Gyeltshen | Pema Zangpo |
| Kinzang Tenzin | Orgyen Tshering | Kinga Wangchuk | Kinley Penjor |
| Jigdrel Wangchuk | Dawa Tshering | Nima Wangdi | Tshelthrim Namgyel |
| Jetsuen Dorji | Kinzang Tashi Tobden | Sonam Dorji | Gyeltshen Zangpo |
| Dendup Namgyel | Jigme Tshultrim | Bikash Pradhan | – |
What to watch: Chencho Gyeltshen is Bhutan’s most recognisable attacker. Playing Bangladesh first and Sri Lanka next gives them a real chance at a shock in Group A.
SAFF Championship 2026 Groups and Format
The six teams are split into two groups of three. Each team plays the other two sides once, so every squad gets two group matches before the knockouts.
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh (hosts) | India (defending champions) |
| Sri Lanka | Maldives |
| Bhutan | Pakistan |
Nepal was originally listed for Group A, subject to FIFA lifting its suspension of the All Nepal Football Association. That did not happen in time, so Group A has three teams.
The semi-final pairings are Group B winner vs Group A runner-up, and Group A winner vs Group B runner-up. The winners meet in the final.
SAFF Championship 2026 Schedule and Kick-Off Times
All matches will be played at Dhaka’s National Stadium. The table includes IST and Bangladesh time (BST), which is 30 minutes ahead of IST. See the SAFF Championship 2026 fixtures for the full schedule.
| Date | Match | Group | Kick-off (IST) | Kick-off (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Nov | Pakistan vs India | B | 3:00 PM | 3:30 PM |
| 5 Nov | Bhutan vs Bangladesh | A | 7:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 8 Nov | Maldives vs Pakistan | B | 3:00 PM | 3:30 PM |
| 8 Nov | Sri Lanka vs Bhutan | A | 7:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 11 Nov | India vs Maldives | B | 3:00 PM | 3:30 PM |
| 11 Nov | Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka | A | 7:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 14 Nov | Semi-final 1 | Knockout | 2:30 PM | 3:00 PM |
| 14 Nov | Semi-final 2 | Knockout | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM |
| 17 Nov | Final | Knockout | 7:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
How to Watch SAFF Championship 2026 Live
In India, live streaming is on VETO. There is no live TV telecast of the tournament in India. Fans in other countries should check SAFF’s official channels and local broadcasters, since rights vary by market.
Conclusion
The SAFF Championship 2026 squads give every team a real reason for optimism. India arrive as favourites with a 28-man group under Naushad Moosa, but Bangladesh have the crowd, the Maldives have the pedigree, and Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bhutan have nothing to lose.
With semi-finals on 14 November and the final on 17 November, every group match counts. Bookmark this guide and check the fixtures before each matchday.
FAQs
It runs from 5 November to 17 November 2026.
All matches are at the National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
India won the 2023 edition and are chasing a record 10th title.
Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Nepal is not taking part because of its FIFA suspension.
Pakistan vs India, at 3:00 PM IST (3:30 PM in Dhaka).
No. It streams on VETO.
