2026 SAFF Club Championship is the proposed edition of the SAFF Club Championship, an international men's club football championship of South Asian countries organised by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). It was stalled for over a decade due to lack of sponsors.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/saff-club-cship-will-have-to-wait-till-at-least-2028-kattel/articleshow/131515683.cms
Format Initially, a centralized venue was planned for the tournament. Eventually, a home-and-away format was finalized as the AIFF expressed reservations over allotting two weeks during the regular Indian football calendar. It was planned to be held in 2024, but postponed to 2026.
In June 2026, General Secretary of the SAFF Purushottam Kattel stated that the tournament was unlikely to take place in the year and likely to be postponed till 2028.
Association team allocation A total of 8 teams from 7 SAFF member associations are set to participate in the 2026 SAFF Club Championship. The association ranking based on the AFC member association coefficient rankings is used to determine the number of participating teams for each association. This will include two teams from India and one team from Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Participation for 2026 SAFF Club Championship Participating Not participating
SAFF rankMember associationSlots1 India22 Bangladesh13 Maldives14 Nepal15 Sri Lanka16 Bhutan17 Pakistan1TotalParticipating associations: 78
Teams The following teams will participate in the tournament:
+ParticipantsTeamQualifying method Mohun Bagan SG2025–26 Indian Super League runners-up Mumbai City2025–26 Indian Super League third place Bashundhara Kings2025–26 Bangladesh Premier League champions Renown2025 Sri Lanka Premier League champions Paro2025 Bhutan Premier League champions TBD Maziya2025–26 Dhivehi Premier League champions TBD
Bracket The matches will be played in home and away knockout format.
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
See also 2026 SAFF U-23 Championship 2026 SAFF Futsal Championship 2026 SAFF Women's Championship 2026 SAFF Women's Futsal Championship 2026 CAFA Silk Way Cup 2025–26 ASEAN Club Championship 2025–26 AGCFF Gulf Club Champions League
References