Bangladesh will begin their home campaign in the 2026 SAFF Championship against Bhutan on November 5, with the hosts handed two group-stage fixtures in the six-team tournament.
The Bangladesh national football team will play the second match of the opening day at the National Stadium in Dhaka, following the tournament opener between defending champions India and Pakistan.
Bangladesh have been drawn in Group A alongside Bhutan and Sri Lanka, while Group B consists of India, Pakistan and the Maldives.
The hosts’ second and final group match will be against Sri Lanka on November 11. Both of Bangladesh’s matches are scheduled for 8:00pm Bangladesh Standard Time.
With just two group games, Bangladesh will have little room for dropped points in their bid to reach the semi-finals. The top two teams from each group will advance to the last four.
The tournament will open with the India-Pakistan clash on November 5, with the regional rivals meeting at 3:30pm. Bangladesh will then take on Bhutan later that evening.
All matches of the championship are scheduled to be held at the National Stadium in Dhaka, putting Bangladesh in familiar surroundings throughout the competition.
The semi-finals are set for November 14, while the final will be played on November 17.
Nepal’s absence has shaped the current fixture list. The Himalayan nation is not included because of its FIFA ban. SAFF, however, said the schedule will be revised if Nepal’s FIFA membership is reinstated in time for the tournament.
