NewKerala.com

India Drawn with Bangladesh & Maldives in SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 Group B

The Indian women's national football team has been drawn in Group B of the SAFF Women's Championship 2026 alongside Bangladesh and Maldives. The tournament will be held in Margao, Goa from May 25 to June 6, 2026, with all matches at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Group A consists of Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. India is the record five-time champion of the tournament, having won in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2019.

Key Points: India in SAFF Women's Championship 2026 Group B

  • India placed in Group B with Bangladesh and Maldives
  • Tournament held in Margao, Goa from May 25 to June 6
  • Group A features Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan
  • India is record five-time SAFF Women's champion
2 min read

Indian football team drawn in Group B of SAFF Women's C'ship in Goa

India women's football team drawn with Bangladesh & Maldives in SAFF Women's Championship 2026 Group B, hosted in Goa from May 25 to June 6.

"This will mark the second time India will host the SAFF Women's Championship - AIFF press release"

Dhaka, April 22

The Indian women's national team were drawn with Bangladesh and Maldives in Group B of the South Asian Football Federation Women's Championship 2026, after the draw held at the SAFF Secretariat in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The tournament will be held in Margao, Goa, from May 25 to June 6, 2026. Group A contains Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. The top two teams from each group will make it to the semi-finals. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will be the venue for all matches of the SAFF Women's Championship 2026, as per a press release from the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

This will mark the second time India will host the SAFF Women's Championship, after the 2016 edition in Siliguri, West Bengal, where the Blue Tigresses won their fourth title. It will also be the second time that Goa will stage a SAFF tournament. The men's championship of 1999 was also held at the PJN Stadium, where India won the title, defeating Bangladesh in the final.

The seeding for the SAFF Women's Championship 2026 draw was done in accordance with the latest FIFA Women's World Rankings issued on April 21. India (69th) and Nepal (87th) were placed in Pot 1. Bangladesh (112th) and Sri Lanka (162nd) were placed in Pot 2. Bhutan (164th) and the Maldives (167th) were placed in Pot 3.

India is the record five-time champions of the SAFF Women's Championship, having won titles in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2019. Bangladesh have won the last two editions in 2022 and 2024.

-SAFF WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP 2026 FINAL DRAW

GROUP A: Nepal, Sri Lanka, BhutanGROUP B: India (hosts), Bangladesh, Maldives.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Honestly, we need to focus more on grassroots development for women's football. While winning SAFF is important, our ranking of 69th shows we have a long way to go. The government should invest more in training facilities and local leagues.
J
James A
The draw looks fair. India and Bangladesh are clearly the favourites in Group B. I'm curious to see how Maldives perform – they've been improving slowly. Also, it's cool that Goa is hosting again after the 1999 men's tournament. Nostalgic!
S
Siddharth J
As a Goan, I'm thrilled to see top-level women's football coming to our state! The PJN Stadium is a historic venue. I hope the local crowd comes out in full support – we need to fill those stands and create a proper home atmosphere for the team. 🏟️🔥
S
Sarah B
I'm impressed by Bangladesh winning the last two editions. They've clearly closed the gap with India. This tournament will be a real test for our team. Let's hope the coaching staff has a good strategy to counter their attacking style. Good luck to all teams!
V
Vikram M
Sahi hai! Hosting in Goa will give great exposure to women's football. But honestly, we should be aiming higher than just SAFF – we need to consistently qualify for the Asian Cup and make deeper runs. The infrastructure is there, but the mindset needs to change. 💪

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50