The SAFF Championship 2026 points table is the page South Asian football fans will keep refreshing from 5 to 17 November 2026. Hosted in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the 15th edition has six teams in two groups of three, and India arrive as defending champions.
Group games are on 5, 8 and 11 November, the semi-finals follow on 14 November, and the final is on 17 November. Here is how the standings work and what every team needs.
SAFF Championship 2026 Points Table – Live Standings
Both groups start on zero, so the tables below show the opening position. They fill up as results come in from 5 November.
Group A Points Table
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangladesh (hosts) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Sri Lanka | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Bhutan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Group B Points Table
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 3 |
| 2 | Maldives | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Pakistan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
Teams are listed in draw order until the first results are in. Pos = position, P = played, W = won, D = drawn, L = lost, GF = goals for, GA = goals against, GD = goal difference, Pts = points.
SAFF Championship 2026 Format and Qualification Rules
This edition is smaller and tighter than most. Nepal are not taking part because the All Nepal Football Association is under a FIFA suspension, so the field is six teams rather than the seven SAFF members.
Each team plays the other two in its group once. The top two from each group advance, and the semi-finals are cross-group: the Group B winner meets the Group A runner-up, and the Group A winner meets the Group B runner-up.
| Stage | Date | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Group stage | 5, 8 and 11 November | Each team plays two matches in its group |
| Semi-finals | 14 November | Top two from each group qualify and cross over |
| Final | 17 November | Semi-final winners meet in Dhaka |
Tie-Breaker Rules: What Happens If Teams Finish Level on Points?
In a three-team group, level points are far more common than in a bigger league, because there are only three matches in total. When two or more teams are tied, tournament regulations decide the order.
Football competitions in this region typically look at results between the tied teams first, then goal difference, then goals scored, with a draw of lots as the last resort. I could not confirm the exact order SAFF has published for 2026, so check the official SAFF regulations before you assume a tie-break outcome.
Group A: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan
The hosts carry the pressure and the expectation. Bangladesh are chasing a first SAFF title since 2003, the last time they hosted and won the tournament, and they are widely seen as the favourites in this group.
Sri Lanka, champions in 1995, are rated by their own coach as a side that will test the hosts. Bhutan, who have never won the title, will look to spoil things from the bottom of the FIFA rankings in the group.
Group B: India, Maldives and Pakistan
Group B opens the tournament with the match everyone circles first: Pakistan against India. India are the record champions with nine titles and the highest-ranked team in the field, so they are favourites to top the group.
Maldives, champions in 2008 and 2018, are a dangerous second-place contender, and Pakistan, who have never won the trophy, need a strong start to stay alive.
For dates, venues and kick-off times in one place, see the full SAFF Championship 2026 fixtures and match schedule.
SAFF Championship 2026 Qualification Scenarios: How Many Points Do You Need?
With only two matches per team, you can work out most of the maths in advance. Here is what each points total usually means in a three-team group.
| Points after two games | Record | Chance of reaching the semi-finals |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Two wins | Certain. The team tops the group. |
| 4 | Win and draw | Certain. It is impossible for both rivals to finish above four points. |
| 3 | Win and loss | Uncertain. The team can finish first, second or third, depending on other results and tie-breakers. |
| 2 | Two draws | Very unlikely to survive, and only with goal difference going its way. |
| 1 | Draw and loss | Rarely enough, and only through a tie-break for second place. |
| 0 | Two losses | Eliminated. |
Full SAFF Championship 2026 Schedule and Match Timings
| Stage | Date | Match | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group B | Thu, 5 Nov | Pakistan vs India | 3:00 PM |
| Group A | Thu, 5 Nov | Bhutan vs Bangladesh | 7:30 PM |
| Group B | Sun, 8 Nov | Maldives vs Pakistan | 3:00 PM |
| Group A | Sun, 8 Nov | Sri Lanka vs Bhutan | 7:30 PM |
| Group B | Wed, 11 Nov | India vs Maldives | 3:00 PM |
| Group A | Wed, 11 Nov | Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka | 7:30 PM |
| Semi-final 1 | Sat, 14 Nov | Group B winner vs Group A runner-up | 2:30 PM |
| Semi-final 2 | Sat, 14 Nov | Group A winner vs Group B runner-up | 8:00 PM |
| Final | Tue, 17 Nov | Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 | 7:30 PM |
All matches are played at the National Stadium in Dhaka. Indian times are converted from the Bangladesh time given in the official schedule, which is UTC+6.
SAFF Championship 2026 Teams, FIFA Rankings and Title History
The table below puts the six teams side by side so you can see who has the pedigree and who is the underdog.
| Team | Group | FIFA ranking | SAFF Championship titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | B | 138 | 9 (1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2021, 2023) |
| Maldives | B | 173 | 2 (2008, 2018) |
| Bangladesh | A | 182 | 1 (2003) |
| Sri Lanka | A | 184 | 1 (1995) |
| Bhutan | A | 192 | None |
| Pakistan | B | 197 | None |
Final Thoughts
The SAFF Championship 2026 points table will be short, sharp and unforgiving. With two matches per team and only two places up for grabs in each group, one slip can end a campaign.
Keep an eye on goal difference and use the schedule above to plan your viewing. India begin their title defence against Pakistan on 5 November, and the final in Dhaka on 17 November will decide who finishes on top.
FAQs
It starts on 5 November 2026 and ends with the final on 17 November 2026.
Six teams, split into two groups of three: Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka in Group A, and India, Maldives and Pakistan in Group B.
The top two teams from each group.
The All Nepal Football Association is currently suspended by FIFA, so Nepal were excluded from this edition.
