Hosts Bangladesh have been drawn in Group A alongside Sri Lanka and Bhutan for the 2026 SAFF Championship, which will be held in Dhaka from November 4 to 17.

The draw for the 15th edition of South Asia's premier football tournament took place in Bhutan on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, Kazi Salahuddin was re-elected unopposed as President of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) during the federation's executive committee elections.

Group B features traditional rivals India and Pakistan along with the Maldives, setting up one of the most anticipated contests of the tournament as the two neighbouring nations are set to meet in the group stage.

The 2026 SAFF Championship will be staged in Bangladesh for the first time in several years, with all matches scheduled to be played in Dhaka. The tournament will run from November 4 to 17. SAFF recently unveiled the official logo of the competition at a ceremony in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, uncertainty remains over Nepal's participation in the tournament after FIFA suspended the country's football federation. If the suspension is not lifted by September, Nepal is expected to miss the championship, forcing the tournament to proceed without them.

SAFF Championship 2026 Groups

Group A
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan.

Group B
India, Pakistan, Maldives.