SAFF Championship 2025: Dates revealed for the 15th edition of tournament

India will be keen to win back-to-back SAFF titles during the 15th edition.

The SAFF Championship 2025 are set to get underway with hosts India looking to defend their 2023 crown when the action kicks off from June 22 to July 5, 2025.

The draw, which will take place a month prior to the tournament, will reveal the opponents for the record nine-time champions. The tournament will be using the latest updated FIFA rankings, with 7 confirmed teams set to be divided into 4 pots, and the nations ranked at the top will occupy the respective positions in the group.

The new format for the SAFF Championship will see all member nations hosting three games across the seven venues, except if India and Pakistan are drawn together; then a neutral venue will host that encounter. Each team will play three home games and three away games in the group stages.

Sportfive have been awarded the marketing rights for the championship along with other competitions until 2029.

Confusion remains over certain tournament details

The 2023 SAFF Championship witnessed two guest nations, Kuwait and Lebanon, taking part in the tournament, apart from the six confirmed nations. However, for the 2025 edition, no guest nations have been confirmed as of yet.

The tournament was also set to usher in a new era with its first-ever home-and-away format, according to prior reports. The decision for this new format was approved at the SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) Executive Committee meeting held in Kathmandu on January 8, 2025.

Under the new league-style system, seven teams were reportedly set to compete in a round-robin format, with each team playing three matches at home and three away matches. However, new reports suggest that SAFF Championship will now be a centralized tournament, with the details about host nation to be revealed soon.

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Can Manolo Marquez lead India to a 10th SAFF Championship?

The 2025 SAFF Championships will mark India‘s 14th appearance in the biennial international men’s tournament. It provides the Blue Tigers with an opportunity to make it 10 titles in 15 years and potentially help head coach Manolo Marquez win his first title leading the Indian national team. With Sunil Chhetri also returning to the Indian national football team, the 40-year-old will be keen to add another silverware to his cabinet after July 5.

The tournament could be a starting point for the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) Vision 2047, a plan regarding football development in India from 2023-2047 from the apex body. While the competition could be a golden opportunity for the Spaniard, it can also add more pressure on him if the results go the other way.

Despite the competition not falling within the FIFA matchdays, the revamped tournament still promises intense regional rivalries and an electrifying football experience for fans across South Asia. With the Blue Pilgrims hoping for a repeat of the results of the 14th edition, the tournament will be a spectacle event for all the teams involved.

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