The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) has announced the schedule for the upcoming Women’s SAFF Championship, set to begin on October 17 in Kathmandu, Nepal. Defending champions Bangladesh will kick off their campaign against Pakistan in a quest to retain their title. Bangladesh is placed in a challenging group alongside India, the five-time SAFF champions.
Last year, Bangladesh secured their first-ever Women’s SAFF Championship title by defeating Nepal 3-1 in the final. This time, they aim to defend their crown, starting with a match against Pakistan. Their second-group opponent, India, has been a dominant force in the tournament’s history, winning the title five times.
Bangladesh finds themselves in Group A, which includes seven teams in total. In the previous edition, Bangladesh defeated Pakistan 6-0 and India 3-0, finishing as the group leader. The opening day of the tournament at Nepal’s Dasharath Stadium will see India facing off against Pakistan. Bangladesh, the unbeaten champions from last year, will begin their title defense on October 20 against Pakistan, followed by a clash with India on October 23.
Aside from India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, the remaining teams are placed in Group B. This group includes hosts Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Nepal appears to have an easier path, being the only team in their group with experience in five finals.
The other three teams have never advanced beyond the semifinals. Nepal will start its group stage matches against Bhutan on October 18, with the semifinals scheduled for October 27 and the final set for October 30.