India will host the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa from May 25 to June 6.
The Indian women’s team has been drawn into Group B alongside Bangladesh and the Maldives.
The draw, conducted at the SAFF Secretariat in Dhaka, placed Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan in Group A. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.
India, ranked 69th in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, enters the tournament with a strong record, having won five SAFF titles in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2019. Bangladesh, ranked 112th, claimed the last two editions in 2022 and 2024, making Group B highly competitive.
This will be India’s second time hosting the SAFF Women’s Championship, after successfully organising the 2016 edition in Siliguri, where the Blue Tigresses lifted their fourth title. Goa also has prior experience hosting SAFF tournaments, having staged the men’s championship in 1999.
The All India Football Federation confirmed that all matches will be played at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao. Officials emphasised that preparations are underway to ensure the smooth conduct of the championship.
Fans eagerly await the clash between India and Bangladesh, given their recent dominance in the region. The Maldives, ranked 167th, will look to challenge both teams and make a mark in Group B.
