The SAFF Championship is returning to Bangladesh after eight years. According to the tournament schedule, hosts Bangladesh will open the tournament against Bhutan on November 5. The match will kick off at 8pm at the National Stadium in Dhaka. The same day, at 3:30pm, fierce rivals India and Pakistan will face off in a Group B match.
Bangladesh’s second match is on November 11, when the hosts play Sri Lanka at 8pm. In the other Group A match, Sri Lanka face Bhutan on November 8. All group matches will be held at the National Stadium.
In Group B, defending champions India are joined by the Maldives and Pakistan. Pakistan play the Maldives on November 8, and India face the Maldives on November 11.
After the group stage, the top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals. The two semifinals will be held on November 14, with the first match starting at 3pm and the second at 8:30pm. The final will be played on November 17 at 8pm.
The published schedule, however, is not yet final. Nepal was left out of August’s draw due to a FIFA ban. If that ban is lifted by September 30, Nepal will also be able to take part in the tournament. In that case, Nepal would be added to Bangladesh’s group and a new schedule published, with the tournament starting from November 4 instead.
Bangladesh last won the SAFF Championship title on home soil in 2003.