SAFF releases official statement debunking rumours regarding India's withdrawal from SAFF Championship 2026
SAFF Championship 2026 will begin on November 5.
Amid rumours of India’s withdrawal from the SAFF Championship 2026, scheduled to be held in Bangladesh from November 5 onwards, the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) has released an official statement debunking all rumours and uncertainties surrounding the participation of India.
The 15th edition of the SAFF Championship is set to take place in National Stadium in Dhaka. The tournament was earlier scheduled to take place in the September-October FIFA International Window.
During PM Narendra Modi’s visit to New Zealand as part of the 100 Years of Unity Through Sport, AIFF announced that the Indian senior men’s national team will play two friendlies against the All Whites in Christchurch and Auckland on November 12 and 15 respectively.
The dates coincided with the knockout stages of the SAFF Championship and Khalid Jamil’s recent remarks on India prioritizing playing big nations sparked rumours about India’s withdrawal from the continental tournament.
SAFF dismisses India’s reported withdrawal
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A report in the Bangladeshi daily Kalbela claimed that the All India Football Federation had decided against sending a team to Dhaka. Even many Indian sports journalists claimed that India might pull out of the SAFF Championship 2026 due to the coinciding dates with New Zealand friendlies.
However an official statement from SAFF clearly labelled the reports as “entirely unfounded and inaccurate”, confirming that India’s participation remained intact and that it had received no communication from the AIFF regarding a withdrawal.
However, there is no statement from AIFF amid such uncertainty.
Why are there rumours and uncertainties surrounding India’s participation in SAFF Championship 2026?
Photos : Shibu Preman / AIFF
Amid coinciding dates with the New Zealand friendlies, there were rumours that AIFF might field the Indian U-23 team for the SAFF Championship in Bangladesh and send the senior team to New Zealand.
Also, the FIFA International Window commences officially from November 9, and India are set to face archrivals Pakistan on 5 November.
There are uncertainties around ISL clubs releasing their U-23 player before the commencement of the FIFA official window.
Releasing players before the FIFA window for the SAFF Championship would mean ISL teams will be without their U-23 players for the entirety of Matchweek 5 and some games of Matchweek 4.
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