SAFF Championship 2023 Draw Live Updates

Hello everyone and welcome to Khel Now’s LIVE COVERAGE of the SAFF Championship 2023 draw. I'm your host Raghav Jamwal, and I’ll be keeping you company through what promises a fascinating event. Please wait for 30 Seconds for the Live blog to load.

SAFF Championship 2023 - Build-up

Eight-time champions India has been given the hosting rights for the 2023 SAFF Championships, which was originally scheduled to be held in Nepal. The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) has confirmed that the 2023 edition of the SAFF championship will be played in India.

SAFF said, “The South Asian Football Federation’s executive committee meeting held virtually on 14 February 2023 has approved the tender bid of Sports Partner International for the marketing and commercial rights of the SAFF Championship”.

The SAFF published a notice inviting tender bids to acquire the rights of the SAFF Championship on 13 December 2022 and received the bid within the deadline of 16 January 2023. The rights have been awarded for four editions till 2029, As per the decision of the committee. The 2023 edition of the championship has been decided to be held in a centralized venue in India.

Kuwait, who are not a SAFF nation, will be playing in the upcoming 2023 SAFF Championship, which will be held in India in December 2023. Kuwait had received an official invitation from the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) earlier this year. While making the official announcement, the SAFF committee expressed their delight at Kuwait’s decision to participate in the championship. 

The SAFF Championship 2023 is set to begin in India from 21 June. Seven teams had confirmed their participation in the competition, including a non-SAFF side, Kuwait. Lebanon, who were invited for the tournament, have now confirmed their acceptance to the SAFF’s invitation.

A statement from the SAFF on 8 May stated, “The Football Association of Lebanon accepted the South Asian Football Federation’s invitation for the championship on Monday.”