2026 SAFF Futsal Championship

2026 SAFF Futsal Championship
Tournament details
Host countryThailand Thailand
Dates14–26 January 2026
Teams7 (from 1 sub-confederation)
Venues2 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions Maldives (1st title)
Runners-up India
Third place   Nepal
Tournament statistics
Matches played21
Goals scored129 (6.14 per match)
Attendance1,360 (65 per match)
Top scorer(s)Maldives Mohamed Imran
(9 goals in 6 matches)
2027 →

The 2026 SAFF Futsal Championship was the inaugural edition of the SAFF Futsal Championship, the biennial international futsal championship organised by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) for the men's national teams of South Asia region countries. The tournament was played in Bangkok, Thailand from 14 to 26 January 2026.[1][2][3][4]

The championship will be accompanied by capacity-building courses for coaches and referees, aimed at strengthening the foundation of futsal in the region.[1]

Venue

SAFF General Secretary, Purushottam Kattel, stated that Thailand was selected for its infrastructure, accessibility, and the limited futsal experience among member nations. He noted that potential India–Pakistan complications were also a factor in the decision.[5]

Venues in Thailand
Bangkok
2026 SAFF Futsal Championship (Thailand)
Nonthaburi Stadium Hua Mak Indoor Stadium
Capacity: 4,000 Capacity: 8,000
Nonthaburi Province Stadium outside image

Participating teams

All the seven member states made their debut in the inaugural edition.[6]

Country Appearance Previous best FIFA Futsal ranking

(December 2025)

 Bangladesh 1st (Debut) N/a 139
 Bhutan NR
 India 133
 Maldives 109
   Nepal 114
 Pakistan 138
 Sri Lanka NR

Squads

Match officials

Due to the limited number of SAFF futsal referees, SAFF appointed 10 futsal referees to officiate the tournament, nine of whom were from outside the regional body.

Referees
  • Australia Nicholas Backo
  • Iran Ali Ahmadi
  • Iran Mohammad Javed Ehtesham
  • Iran Ali Hafizi
  • India Vaja Vishal Mahendrabhai
  • Lao Football Federation Khampasong Xayavongsy
  • New Zealand Chris Sinclair
  • Thailand Benjapol Mucharoennsap
  • Thailand Chonlakan Luangsa-Ard
  • Football Association of Thailand Nattakit Hintua
Match Commissioners
  • India De Sousa Jonathan
  • India Bhattachrya Arunava
  • Bhutan D. Tashi Wangmo
  • Maldives Shahir Ahmed
Referee Accessors
  • Iran Mahmoud Reza Nasirlou
  • Thailand Presser Krutsri

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Result  MDV  IND    NEP  PAK  BAN  SRI  BHU
1  Maldives (C) 6 6 0 0 28 6 +22 18 Champions 5–0 2–1 6–1
2  India 6 3 2 1 26 17 +9 11 Runners-up 3–3 4–1 4–4
3    Nepal 6 3 2 1 18 12 +6 11 Third-place
4  Pakistan 6 3 1 2 20 20 0 10 1–7 4–4 5–2 4–2
5  Bangladesh 6 2 1 3 16 21 −5 7 1–4 1–5 5–1 4–1
6  Sri Lanka 6 0 1 5 10 24 −14 1 2–5 1–4 1–2 3–3
7  Bhutan 6 0 1 5 11 29 −18 1 1–3 3–11 1–4
Source: GSA
(C) Champions

Matches

The SAFF had released its official match schedule for the season, detailing dates, venues, and kickoff times for all the matches.[7]

Match 1
Sri Lanka 3–3 Bhutan
  • Mohamed Aakib 8', 18'
  • Mohammed Thilham 36'
 Report
Attendance: 75
Referee: Ali Ahmadi (Iran)
Match 2
India 4–4 Bangladesh
  • Anmol Adhikari 12'
  • Lalsawmpuia 20'
  • K Roluahpuia 27', 36'
 Report
Attendance: 70
Referee: Chris Sinclair (New Zealand)
Match 3
Pakistan 1–7 Maldives
  • Nisar Hussain 26'
 Report
  • Ahmed Hameed 7'
  • Ali Shiyah 10'
  • Mohamed Imran 12', 24'
  • Zaidhaan Ahmed 20'
  • Ali Shamal Abdulla 20'
  • Abdulla Shafiu 33'
Attendance: 50
Referee: Benjapol Mucharoennsap (Thailand)
Match 4
Sri Lanka 1–2   Nepal
Mohamed Kursheeth 10' Report Saroj Tamang 15', 21'
Attendance: 50
Referee: Chonlakan Luangsa-Ard (Thailand)
Match 5
Pakistan 4–2 Bhutan
  • Hassaan Zafar 28'
  • Asif Ahmad 32'
  • Adan Ashfaq 34', 35'
 Report
Attendance: 50
Referee: Ali Hafizi (Iran)
Match 6
Maldives 6–1 Bangladesh
  • Mohamed Imran 1'
  • Ishan Ibrahim 9'
  • Ahmed Rahil Rasheed 10', 31'
  • Ali Shiyah 16' (pen.)
  • Abdulla Shafiu 40'
 Report
  • Kazi Ibrahim Ahamed 20'
Attendance: 100
Referee: Ali Ahmadi (Iran)
Match 7
India 3–3   Nepal
 Report
Attendance: 56
Referee: Ali Ahmadi (Iran)
Match 8
Pakistan 5–2 Sri Lanka
  • Hamza Nusrat 2'
  • Ali Agha 7', 39'
  • Hassaan Zafar 30'
  • Asif Ahmad 34'
 Report
  • Mohamed Aakib 34'
  • Abdul Azeez 40'
Attendance: 50
Referee: Mohammad Javed Ehtesham (Iran)
Match 9
Bangladesh 4–1 Bhutan
  • Moin Ahmed 5', 10'
  • Md Foysal Hossain 35'
  • Kazi Ibrahim Ahamed 36'
 Report
Attendance: 85
Referee: Chris Sinclair (New Zealand)
Match 10
Pakistan 4–4   Nepal
  • Muhammad Ellham 25'
  • Nisar Hussain 33'
  • Asif Ahmad 34'
  • Hassaan Zafar 37'
 Report
Attendance: 52
Referee: Benjapol Mucharoennsap (Thailand)
Match 11
Maldives 5–0 India
 Report
Attendance: 50
Referee: Ali Hafizi (Iran)
Match 12
Bangladesh 5–1 Sri Lanka
  • Rahbar Khan 4', 19'
  • Moin Ahmed 22'
  • Tajware Bin Kashem 34'
  • Abir Hossain 39'
 Report
Attendance: 51
Referee: Nattakit Hintua (Thailand)
Match 13
Maldives 2–1   Nepal
  • Abdulla Shafiu 23'
  • Mohamed Imran 33'
 Report
Attendance: 150
Referee: Ali Hafizi (Iran)
Match 14
Bangladesh 1–5 Pakistan
  • Fayed Azim 36'
 Report
  • Ali Agha 18', 40'
  • Zaid Ullah Khan 31', 40'
  • Salar Ahmed Khan 37'
Attendance: 23
Referee: Chris Sinclair (New Zealand)
Match 15
Bhutan 3–11 India
 Report
  • Jonathan Lalrawngbawla 4'
  • Jignam Seltob Dorji 6' (o.g.)
  • Laltluangzela 9', 39'
  • Lalsawmpuia 15'
  • Anmol Adhikari 17', 32'
  • Seon D'Souza 34'
  • Nikhil Mali 40', 40', 40'
Attendance: 50
Referee: Mohammad Javed Ehtesham (Iran)
Match 16
Bangladesh 1–4   Nepal
 Report
Attendance: 36
Referee: Khamprasong Xayavongsy (Laos)
Match 17
Bhutan 1–3 Maldives
  • Jigme Tshultrim 12'
 Report
  • Abdulla Junaid 19'
  • Ahmed Hameed 23'
  • Mohamed Imran 36'
Attendance: 100
Referee: Ali Ahmadi (Iran)
Match 18
Sri Lanka 1–4 India
  • Mohamed Kursheeth 19'
 Report
Attendance: 19
Referee: Chonlakan Luangsa-Ard (Thailand)
Match 19
Bhutan 1–4   Nepal
  • Jetsuen Dorji 16'
 Report
  • Bijay Shrestha 21'
  • Pemba Dorje Lama 25', 31'
  • Saroj Tamang 38'
Attendance: 58
Referee: Ali Hafizi (Iran)
Match 20
Sri Lanka 2–5 Maldives
  • Mohammed Thilham 17'
  • Mohamed Aman 26'
 Report
  • Mohamed Imran 12', 36'
  • Huzaifath Rasheed 20'
  • Mohamed Aakib 29' (o.g.)
  • Hussain Suhail 34'
Attendance: 50
Referee: Nicholas Backo (Australia)
Match 21
India 4–1 Pakistan
 Report
Attendance: 135
Referee: Chris Sinclair (New Zealand)

Statistics

Goalscorers

There were 129 goals scored in 21 matches, for an average of 6.14 goals per match.

9 goals

  • Maldives Mohamed Imran

6 goals

5 goals

4 goals

  • Maldives Abdulla Shafiu
  • India Anmol Adhikari
  • India Laltluangzela
  • Nepal Saroj Tamang

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

  • Bangladesh Abir Hossain
  • Bangladesh Md Foysal Hossain
  • Bangladesh Tajware Bin Kashem
  • Bhutan Jigme Tshultrim
  • Bhutan Kinga Wingchuk
  • India Jonathan Lalrawngbawla
  • Nepal Amit Lama
  • Nepal Jenish Prajapati
  • Nepal Suraj Gurung
  • Nepal Sanje Syangtan
  • Nepal Lakpa Tamang
  • Maldives Ishan Ibrahim
  • Maldives Zaidhaan Ahmed
  • Maldives Huzaifath Rasheed
  • Maldives Hussain Suhail
  • Maldives Abdulla Junaid
  • Pakistan Hamza Nusrat
  • Pakistan Muhammad Ellham
  • Pakistan Salar Ahmed Khan
  • Sri Lanka Abdul Azeez Mohamed Azmeer

1 own goal

  • Bhutan Jignam Seltob Dorji (against India)
  • Sri Lanka Mohamed Aakib (against Maldives)

Broadcasting

Territory Broadcaster(s) Notes
No restricted territory Sportzworkz

(YouTube channel)

 2026 SAFF Futsal matches's channel on YouTube

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "SAFF to Launch Inaugural Futsal Championship in January 2026". www.saffederation.org. 5 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "SAFF planning to host first futsal championship". Adhadhu Sports. 25 September 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "Saff to launch first Futsal Championship in January 2026". www.tob.news.com. 5 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  4. ↑ Report, Star Sports (5 October 2025). "Saff to launch futsal championship next year". The Daily Star. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  5. ↑ "দক্ষিণ এশিয়ায় নয়, আগামী বছর থাইল্যান্ডে সাফ ফুটসাল". Bangladesh Times (in Bengali). Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  6. ↑ "Seven South Asian Nations Make History in Womens Futsal at SAFF Championship 2026 in Thailand". Thairath Online. 11 January 2026. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "SAFF Futsal Championship 2026". SAFF. 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
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