India drawn against Bangladesh, Maldives in SAFF Women's Championship 2026
SAFF Women’s Championship will be played from May 25.
The Indian women’s national team were drawn with Bangladesh and Maldives in Group B of the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026, after the draw held at the SAFF Secretariat in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The tournament will be held in Margao, Goa, from May 25 to June 6, 2026.
Group A contains Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. The top two teams from each group will make it to the semi-finals. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will be the venue for all matches of the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026.
India to host SAFF Women’s Championship for second time
This will mark the second time India will host the SAFF Women’s Championship, after the 2016 edition in Siliguri, West Bengal, where the Blue Tigresses won their fourth title. It will also be the second time that Goa will stage a SAFF tournament. The men’s championship of 1999 was also held at the PJN Stadium, where India won the title, defeating Bangladesh in the final.
The seeding for the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 draw was done in accordance with the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings issued on April 21. India (69th) and Nepal (87th) were placed in Pot 1. Bangladesh (112th) and Sri Lanka (162nd) were placed in Pot 2. Bhutan (164th) and Maldives (167th) were placed in Pot 3.
India are the record five-time champions of the SAFF Women’s Championship, having won titles in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2019. Bangladesh have won the last two editions in 2022 and 2024.
SAFF WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP 2026 FINAL DRAW
GROUP A: Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan
GROUP B: India (hosts), Bangladesh, Maldives
VENUE: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Margao, Goa
Fixtures
Monday, 25 May
- Group A: Bhutan vs Nepal – 16:30 IST
- Group B: Maldives vs India – 19:30 IST
Thursday, 28 May
- Group A: Sri Lanka vs Bhutan – 16:30 IST
- Group B: Bangladesh vs Maldives – 19:30 IST
Sunday, 31 May
- Group A: Nepal vs Bhutan – 16:30 IST
- Group B: India vs Bangladesh – 19:30 IST
Wednesday, 3 June – Semi-Finals
- SF1: Winners Group A vs Runners-up Group B – 16:00 IST
- SF2: Winners Group B vs Runners-up Group A – 20:00 IST
Saturday, 6 June – Final
- Final: Winners SF1 vs Winners SF2 – 18:30 IST
When will the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 take place?
The tournament will be held from May 25 to June 6, 2026. All matches will be hosted at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa.
Which teams are in India’s group?
India are placed in Group B alongside Bangladesh and Maldives.
How many titles has India won in this tournament?
India are five-time champions, winning in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2019.
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A sports journalist for over 4 years, Triyasha has been covering Indian Football and Kanbaddi meticulously, She specialises in in-depth knowledge of the game, the players and the footballing infrastructure and heritage in India.