The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) has announced the suspension of the SAFF Championship until 2026, citing complications over venue and sponsorship, despite initial plans to hold the tournament this June.
In an official statement released today, SAFF stated that preparations were underway to host the tournament on a home-and-away basis. However, both SAFF member nations and marketing partner Sports Five felt that more time was needed to fully implement this new format. As a result, the decision was made to postpone the championship.
Although the official announcement emphasized a shift to the home-and-away model, the 2024 edition was initially scheduled to be held centrally in Sri Lanka, similar to previous editions, before transitioning to the new format in future tournaments.
The decision comes as a surprise, especially since SAFF President Kazi Salahuddin had recently indicated that a final decision would be made at a meeting in Kathmandu on May 24. He has yet to comment on the sudden postponement.
Interestingly, SAFF has issued the statement on its website but has not formally informed member federations. Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) General Secretary Imran Hossain Tushar said, “We saw the news on SAFF's website and through media reports. We haven't received any official communication. Our team was preparing to participate in the tournament this June.”
The suspension also raises questions about organizing the SAFF Championship in 2026, a year that coincides with the FIFA World Cup. However, SAFF has expressed a desire to hold the tournament that year in a way that aligns with the excitement of the World Cup, using the home-and-away format.
