The South Asian Football Federation Championship, commonly known as SAFF Cup (previously known as the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation Gold Cup and South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup), is the main international association football competition of the men’s national football teams governed by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). All seven teams are eligible to compete in the tournament. The countries that currently compete in the tournaments are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It is held every two years. The SAFF Championship 2023 is just on the door.
Evolution of SAFF Championship:
The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship kicked off in Lahore in 1993, evolving out of its forerunner, the South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation (SAARC) Gold Cup.
Where will the SAFF Championship 2023 take place?
The SAFF Championship 2023 will be the 14th Edition of the SAFF Championship.
Football Sri Lanka initially expressed their interest to bid for hosting the tournament, at the SAFF Executive Committee meeting on 17 October 2021 in the Maldives. But, FIFA suspended Sri Lanka on 21 January 2023. So, they are unable to host as well as participate.
Later, Anwarul Haq Helal, the general secretary of SAFF unofficially told the media that only Nepal had applied for hosting rights till the deadline (i.e. 29 January 2023). However, the host was supposed to be announced only after the SAFF members’ meeting during the 33rd AFC Congress 2023 in Manama, Bahrain on 1 February 2023.
Afterward On 14 February 2023, India was declared as host of the 14th edition of the championship. The centralized venue, However lately on 19 March 2023, AIFF announced Bengaluru as the host city for the Biennial International Men’s Football Championship of South Asia.
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When will the SAFF Championship 2023 happen?
The SAFF Championship 2023, 14th Edition will take place from 21 June to 4 July 2023.
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