SAFF Women’s Club Championship announced; inaugural edition to be held in December

SAFF will organise the first-ever club women’s championship in December.

In a groundbreaking development, the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) has announced the SAFF Women’s Club Championship. This will be the first-ever club championship organised by SAFF at any level. The subcontinental club championship has been in the offing for quite some time, with plans taking final shape now.

The regional football confederation will organize the inaugural edition of the SAFF Women’s Club Championship from December 5 to 20 this year. This will mark the beginning of a major shift in women’s football in South Asia. The tournament will follow a league-cum-knockout format, with the top two teams advancing to the final.

Nepal to host the inaugural edition

The South Asian Football Federation has locked Nepal as the host for the inaugural edition of the SAFF Women’s Club Championship. The tournament will start on December 5, with its conclusion scheduled for December 20.

In the inaugural edition, a total of five teams will take part. Representatives from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan will grace the tournament. The clubs have also been finalized for the first-ever subcontinental women’s club championship.

East Bengal FC, the defending champions of the Indian Women’s League, will represent India. Nasrin Sports Academy from Bangladesh will also take part in the competition. The host, Nepal, will be represented by APF Football Clubs. From Pakistan, we will have the Karachi City Football Club competing for the honours.

Completing the lineup of participating clubs is Transport United Ladies FC from Bhutan. The competition will provide a platform for all the major clubs in the subcontinent to showcase their talent. It is a huge milestone in the progress journey of women’s football in South Asia.

Five clubs in SAFF Women’s Club Championship 2025:

• Narsin Sports Academy (Bangladesh)
• Transports United Ladies FC (Bhutan)
• East Bengal FC (India)
• APF Football Club (Nepal)
• Karachi City Football Club (Pakistan)

What about the men’s club championship?

The announcement of the women’s club championship has revived the possibility of the men’s club championship. There have been various reports in the recent past hinting at the plans of SAFF to launch a club championship.

The regional confederation announced the inaugural SAFF Men’s Club Championship in January this year, but there has been no substantial development since then. The confederation zeroed in on an 8-club championship, with teams from seven member associations taking part. The fans are still awaiting the finalization of a roadmap for the subcontinental men’s club competition.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.