Abbreviation | SAFF |
---|---|
Formation | 1997 |
Type | Sports organization |
Headquarters | Banani, Dhaka, Bangladesh |
Region served | South Asia |
Membership | 7 member associations |
Official language | English |
Kazi Salahuddin | |
Anwarul Haq Helal | |
Parent organization | AFC |
Website | saffederation |
South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) is an association of the football playing nations in South Asia which is a regional subsidiary of Asian Football Confederation, incorporated in 1997. The members of the association are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The SAFF was founded in 1997, with Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. In 2000, they expanded to 7 members, adding Bhutan. Afghanistan joined in 2005, but left in 2015, to join then newly formed Central Asian Football Association.[1]
President | Years |
---|---|
P. P. Lakshmanan | 1997–2001[2][3] |
Ganesh Thapa | 2001–2009[4][3] |
Kazi Salahuddin | 2009–2016[5][3] |
Ranjith Rodrigo (acting) | 2016[6] |
Kazi Salahuddin | 2016–present[5][3] |
FIFA Code | Association | Founded | SAFF affiliation | Top tier league (men's) | Top tier league (women's) | National team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BAN | Bangladesh | 1972 | 1997 | Bangladesh Premier League | Bangladesh Women's Football League | |
BHU | Bhutan | 1983 | 2000 | Bhutan Premier League | Women's National League | |
IND | India | 1937 | 1997 | Indian Super League | Indian Women's League | |
MDV | Maldives | 1982 | 1997 | Dhivehi Premier League | ||
NEP | Nepal | 1951 | 1997 | Martyr's Memorial A-Division League | National Women's league | |
PAK | Pakistan | 1947 | 1997 | Pakistan Premier League | National Women Football Championship | |
SRI | Sri Lanka | 1939 | 1997 | Sri Lanka Super League |
Association | SAFF membership duration | Notes |
---|---|---|
Afghanistan | 2005–2015 | Afghanistan joined SAFF in 2005, later left in 2015 to become a founding member of Central Asian Football Association (CAFA). |
The South Asian Football Federation runs several competitions on subcontinental level.
Men's[edit] |
Women's[edit]
|
The South Asian Football Federation announced in April 2011 that they had decided to start a new tournament for association football club sides, the SAFF Club Championship, with the inaugural edition to be held in Bangladesh from 1–15 September of the same year.[7] The competition was postponed and desires to revive the competition were again announced in July 2013 but the competition has still not started with accusations that India, the prime nation in the competition, were not altogether interested in participating.[8]
Sri Lanka was supposed to host the first edition in August 2014.[9]
A new possible start was set for December 2016 but later announced that 2017 would see the first edition.[10][11] This again was changed and announced that 2018 would be the start of the tournament.[12] But the Club Championship was never a reality and only remained as a plan on paper.
The 2024 SAFF Club Championship will be the inaugural edition of the SAFF Club Championship, the biennial international men's club football championship of South Asia organised by South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).[13]
Competition | Current | Champions | Details | Runners-up | Next | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
National teams | |||||||
SAFF Championship | 2023 | India | Final | Kuwait | 2025 | ||
South Asian Games | 2019 | Nepal | Final | Bhutan | 2025 | ||
U-20 Championship | 2024 | Bangladesh | Final | Nepal | 2025 | ||
U-17 Championship | 2024 | India | Final | Bangladesh | 2025 | ||
Women's national teams | |||||||
SAFF Women's Championship | 2024 | Bangladesh | Final | Nepal | 2026 | ||
South Asian Games | 2019 | India | Final | Nepal | 2025 | ||
U-19 Women's Championship | 2024 | Bangladesh India |
Final | No runners-up | 2025 | ||
U-16 Women's Championship | 2024 | Bangladesh | Final | India | 2025 |
Nation | National team | Women's national team | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SAFF | SAG | U18/U19/U20 | U15/U16/U17 | SAFF | SAG | U18/U19/U20 | U15/U16/U17 | ||
India | 9 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 33 |
Bangladesh | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 14 |
Nepal | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
Pakistan | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Maldives | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Sri Lanka | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Bhutan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Former member | |||||||||
Afghanistan† | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 1 |
Invited guest | |||||||||
Russia†† | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 |
Kuwait | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 |
Lebanon | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 |
Total | 14 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 65 |
Note: (†) Member from 2005 till 2015 , (††) The Russian Under-17 team was invited to the Under-17 tournament
Last Update: 2024 SAFF U-19 Women's Championship (Total: 44 Editions)
Exclude Football at the South Asian Games and SAFF Club Championship.
|
|
For each tournament, the flag of the host country and the number of teams in each finals tournament (in brackets) are shown.
FIFA World Cup record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | 1930 (13) |
1934 (16) |
1938 (15) |
1950 (13) |
1954 (16) |
1958 (16) |
1962 (16) |
1966 (16) |
1970 (16) |
1974 (16) |
1978 (16) |
1982 (24) |
1986 (24) |
1990 (24) |
1994 (24) |
1998 (32) |
2002 (32) |
2006 (32) |
2010 (32) |
2014 (32) |
2018 (32) |
2022 (32) |
2026 (48) |
2030 (48) |
Years | Attempts |
Bangladesh | Did not exist | Not a FIFA member | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | 0 | 11 | |||||||||
Bhutan | Did not exist | Not a FIFA member | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | TBD | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||
India | Not a FIFA member | •• | ‡ | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | 0 | 11 | ||
Maldives | Did not exist | Not a FIFA member | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | 0 | 8 | |||||||||||
Nepal | Did not exist | Not a FIFA member | × | × | × | • | • | × | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | 0 | 9 | |||||||
Pakistan | Did not exist | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | 0 | 9 | ||
Sri Lanka | Did not exist | ‡ | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | 0 | 9 | ||
Former member | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Afghanistan | Not a FIFA member | Not a SAFF member | • | • | • | Not a SAFF member | 0 | 3 |
Team | 1956 (4) |
1960 (4) |
1964 (4) |
1968 (5) |
1972 (6) |
1976 (6) |
1980 (10) |
1984 (10) |
1988 (10) |
1992 (8) |
1996 (12) |
2000 (12) |
2004 (16) |
2007 (16) |
2011 (16) |
2015 (16) |
2019 (24) |
2023 (24) |
2027 (24) |
Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bangladesh | Part of Pakistan | × | × | GS | • | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | 1 | |||
India | × | • | 2nd | • | × | × | × | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | GS | • | GS | GS | TBD | 5 |
AFC Challenge Cup[edit]
|
AFC Solidarity Cup[edit]
|
Nation | 1951 (6) |
1954 (12) |
1958 (14) |
1962 (8) |
1966 (11) |
1970 (10) |
1974 (15) |
1978 (14) |
1982 (16) |
1986 (18) |
1990 (14) |
1994 (19) |
1998 (23) |
2002 (24) |
2006 (28) |
2010 (24) |
2014 (29) |
2018 (25) |
2022 (23) |
2026 (TBA) |
Years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bangladesh | Did not exist | 13th | 12th | 14th | 13th | DQ | 20th | 24th | 24th | 20th | 15th | 20th | 10 | ||||||||
India | 1st | 8th | 4th | 1st | 8th | 3rd | 13th | 8th | 6th | 16th | DQ | DQ | 16th | 10th | 14th | 14th | 26th | 9th | 16 | ||
Maldives | Did not exist | 20th | 22nd | 20th | 17th | 21st | 5 | ||||||||||||||
Nepal | 16th | 18th | 18th | 17th | 29th | 22nd | 6 | ||||||||||||||
Pakistan | 6th | 9th | 11th | 17th | 14th | 23rd | 21st | 22nd | 24th | 17th | 10 | ||||||||||
Former member | |||||||||||||||||||||
Afghanistan | Not a SAFF member | 25th | Not a SAFF member | 1 |
Team | 1975 (6) |
1977 (6) |
1980 (6) |
1981 (8) |
1983 (6) |
1986 (7) |
1989 (8) |
1991 (9) |
1993 (8) |
1995 (11) |
1997 (11) |
1999 (15) |
2001 (14) |
2003 (14) |
2006 (9) |
2008 (8) |
2010 (8) |
2014 (8) |
2018 (8) |
2022 (12) |
2026 (12) |
2029 (12) |
Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
India | × | × | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | × | × | × | × | GS | GS | GS | GS | GS | • | • | • | • | • | ••[a] | TBD | TBD | 9 |
Nepal | × | × | × | × | × | GS | GS | × | × | × | × | GS | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | TBD | TBD | 3 |
Nation | 1990 (6) |
1994 (4) |
1998 (8) |
2002 (6) |
2006 (8) |
2010 (7) |
2014 (11) |
2018 (11) |
2022 (16) |
2026 (TBA) |
Years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bangladesh | 12th | 1 | |||||||||
India | 8th | 9th | 13th | 3 | |||||||
Maldives | DQ | 11th | 10th | 2 | |||||||
Nepal | 11th | 1 |
Nation | 1959 |
1960 |
1961 |
1962 |
1963 |
1964 |
1965 |
1966 |
1967 |
1968 |
1969 |
1970 |
1971 |
1972 |
1973 |
1974 |
1975 |
1976 |
1977 |
1978 |
1980 |
1982 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bangladesh | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | GS | × | GS | GS | 5th | × |
India | × | × | × | × | GS | GS | GS | QF | QF | GS | × | × | QF | GS | GS | 1st | GS | GS | QF | GS | • | • |
Nepal | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | GS | GS | × | GS | × | × | × | × | • | • |
Pakistan | × | × | × | GS | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | GS | × | × | × | × | × | × | • |
Sri Lanka | 8th | × | GS | × | GS | × | × | GS | QF | × | GS | GS | × | × | × | × | × | GS | × | GS | × | × |
Nation | 1985 |
1986 |
1988 |
1990 |
1992 |
1994 |
1996 |
1998 |
2000 |
2002 |
2004 |
2006 |
2008 |
2010 |
2012 |
2014 |
2016 |
2018 |
2023 |
2025 |
Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bangladesh | • | × | • | • | • | × | GS | • | • | GS | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | 6 |
India | • | GS | × | GS | GS | × | GS | GS | • | QF | GS | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | 22 |
Nepal | × | • | × | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | GS | • | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | TBD | 4 |
Pakistan | • | • | • | • | • | × | • | • | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | × | × | × | × | TBD | 3 |
Sri Lanka | × | GS | × | • | × | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | × | • | × | × | • | • | • | TBD | 10 |
Team | 1985 (16) |
1987 (16) |
1989 (16) |
1991 (16) |
1993 (16) |
1995 (16) |
1997 (16) |
1999 (16) |
2001 (16) |
2003 (16) |
2005 (16) |
2007 (24) |
2009 (24) |
2011 (24) |
2013 (24) |
2015 (24) |
2017 (24) |
2019 (24) |
2023 (24) |
2025 (48) |
2026 (48) |
Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
India | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 | • | • | TBD | TBD | 1 |
Nation | 1985 |
1986 |
1988 |
1990 |
1992 |
1994 |
1996 |
1998 |
2000 |
2002 |
2004 |
2006 |
2008 |
2010 |
2012 |
2014 |
2016 |
2018 |
2023 |
2025 |
Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bangladesh | × | GS | • | • | GS | • | • | GS | GS | × | GS | GS | DQ | • | • | × | • | • | • | TBD | 6 |
India | • | • | • | GS | • | • | GS | • | • | QF | GS | • | GS | • | GS | • | GS | QF | GS | TBD | 9 |
Nepal | • | × | • | • | • | × | × | • | GS | × | • | GS | • | • | • | GS | × | • | • | TBD | 3 |
Pakistan | × | × | × | × | • | × | × | • | • | GS | × | • | • | • | • | • | × | × | • | TBD | 1 |
Team | 2002 (12) |
2004 (15) |
2006 (8) |
2007 (8) |
2009 (8) |
2011 (6) |
2013 (6) |
2015 (8) |
2017 (8) |
2019 (8) |
2024 (8) |
Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
India | GS | QF | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 3 |
Nepal | • | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 1 |
Team | 2008 (16) |
2010 (16) |
2012 (16) |
2014 (16) |
2016 (16) |
2018 (16) |
2022 (16) |
2024 (16) |
Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
India | • | • | • | • | • | • | GS | • | 1 |
Team | 2005 (11) |
2007 (6) |
2009 (8) |
2011 (6) |
2013 (12) |
2015 (8) |
2017 (8) |
2019 (8) |
2024 (8) |
Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bangladesh | GS | × | × | × | × | • | GS | GS | • | 3 |
India | GS | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 1 |
Rankings are calculated by FIFA.
Men's national teams[edit]
|
Leading men's team:
|
Women's national teams[edit]
|
Leading women's team:
|
By number of goals[edit](Players with at least 20 goals)
|
By country[edit](only highest goalscorers from each country)
|
By number of goals[edit](Players with at least 30 goals)
|
By country[edit](only highest goalscorers from each country)
|
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)