Pakistan football is set for a packed 2026, as the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) has confirmed hosts and tentative windows for all its key men’s and women’s tournaments.
Pakistan is set for a landmark moment, with multinational age-group football returning to the country.
Here’s SAFF’s complete competition calendar for 2026.
| Event | Host | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| SAFF Boys U17 Championship 2026 | Pakistan | August 2026 (TBD) |
| SAFF Men’s Championship 2026 | Bangladesh | Sept–Oct 2026 (TBD) |
| SAFF Boys U20 Championship 2026 | Maldives | March 2026 (TBD) |
Pakistan hosting the SAFF Boys U17 Championship will be a significant milestone, signaling the return of regional youth competition to the country.
Bangladesh will stage the flagship SAFF Men’s Championship later in the year, while Maldives will open the men’s calendar with the Boys U20 event in March.
| Event | Host | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| SAFF Girls U19 Championship 2026 | Nepal | January 2026 (TBD) |
| SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 | India | June 2026 (TBD) |
| SAFF Girls U17 Championship 2026 | Bhutan | April 2026 (TBD) |
On the women’s side, the year will begin in Nepal with the Girls U19 Championship, followed by the senior SAFF Women’s Championship in India in June.
Bhutan will host the Girls U17 Championship in April, underscoring SAFF’s focus on building a full pathway from youth to senior women’s football.
With six tournaments spread across South Asia and multiple age groups, 2026 promises to be one of the busiest years yet for the region’s game.
The lingering question now is whether Pakistan and India will travel across the border for these SAFF events, and whether off-field tensions will be kept away from the football pitch.