Goa set to host SAFF Women’s Championship

Panaji: The South Asian Football Federation has confirmed that the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 will be held in Goa from May 25 to June 7.

The championship will see participation from seven countries, two of whom – India and Bangladesh – took part in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 in Australia. Nepal could have also made it but lost the decisive qualifier on penalties against Uzbekistan, who have now made it to the last-eight stage of the continental showpiece.

Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Bhutan are the other member associations.

“The women’s national teams from all seven SAFF member associations are expected to participate in the championship, making it one of the premier women’s football events in the region,” SAFF general secretary Purushottam Kattel wrote to the AIFF on Thursday. “This flagship regional competition continues to play a vital role in the development and promotion of women’s football across South Asia.”

Goa hosted the SAFF Men’s Football Championship in 1999, while the Women’s Championship will be held at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda for the first time.

“Women’s football in South Asia is on the rise and if someone needed proof, it was evident at the Asian Cup,” said Goa Football Association (GFA) president Caitano Fernandes. “India and Bangladesh are among the top 10 teams in Asia, and Nepal too have a very strong team. I am certain that the quality of the matches will be top notch.”

India lost all matches in the group stages of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia but won praise for spirited performances against Vietnam, where they conceded an added time winner, and against three-time champions Chinese Taipei where Manisha Kalyan’s stunning long-range freekick received global acclaim.

Bangladesh also lost all their group stage games against China, North Korea and Uzbekistan with all three teams making it to the quarterfinals.

India have won the SAFF Women’s Championship a record five times, while Bangladesh have proved their recent might, winning the last two titles in 2022 and 2024. Bangladesh retained the title with a 2-1 win against Nepal at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu.