Kathmandu, Nepal: South Asia's biggest football tournament, the SAFF Championship, will switch to a home-and-away format starting this year, while the inaugural SAFF Club Championship will launch next year, the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) announced.
At the SAFF Executive Committee meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal, it was decided that the SAFF Championship would be held from June 15 to July 25 in the new format. Sportfive media house will hold broadcasting rights until 2029.
SAFF General Secretary Anwarul Haq stated, "We are starting this year with the home-and-away format, but if challenges arise, we may revert to a centralized format based on progress."
The change marks a departure from the tournament’s history, where all but one edition was held at a single centralized venue.
The new format will allow participating countries to host matches on their home turf, providing a more engaging experience for fans.
In addition, SAFF confirmed the first SAFF Club Championship will be held in 2026. This long-delayed tournament will feature champions from the seven SAFF nations and two additional slots for the top-ranked AFC nation.
Further details on the format will be finalized this year by the executive and competition committees.
Efforts to organize the Club Championship have been ongoing since 2009, but logistical and administrative challenges, including a lack of enthusiasm from dominant footballing nations, caused repeated delays. SAFF has now resolved to prioritize its implementation.
The federation also announced plans to launch an Under-23 tournament next year as part of its broader initiative to strengthen football development in the region.
