Bangladesh, India in separate groups in SAFF Championship

Hosts Bangladesh have been drawn in Group A alongside Sri Lanka and Bhutan for the 2026 SAFF Championship, while regional powerhouse India headline Group B with the Maldives and Pakistan.

The draw was held in Thimphu, Bhutan, on Saturday. As hosts, Bangladesh were placed in one pot, while India were seeded separately as the highest-ranked team in South Asia, ensuring the two sides could not meet in the group stage.

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Nepal, however, remains absent from the draw after being suspended by FIFA. SAFF said it will wait until the stipulated deadline before making a final decision. If FIFA lifts the suspension in time, Nepal will join Group A alongside Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.

The tournament will be held in Dhaka from November 4 to 17. Bangladesh last hosted the SAFF Championship in 2018.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals.

Group A: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka 

Group B: India, Maldives, Pakistan