Sri Lanka has officially secured the hosting rights for the highly anticipated 2025 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship, set to be held in June 2025. The decision was made following a proposal by Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) President Jaswar Umar, who is currently in Kathmandu, Nepal.
This marks a significant milestone for Sri Lankan football, as the country last hosted the SAFF Championship in 2008, in collaboration with the Maldives. After a 17-year gap, Sri Lanka is once again set to welcome the region’s top footballing nations to compete in South Asia’s most prestigious football tournament, often referred to as the “South Asian World Cup.”
Sri Lanka’s football legacy includes a remarkable victory in the 1995 SAFF Championship, which was held in Colombo. This remains the country’s only SAFF title to date. The upcoming tournament presents a golden opportunity for the Sri Lankan national team to compete on home soil and strive to reclaim the championship 30 years after their historic win.
The 2025 SAFF Championship will feature seven nations, including:
✅ India
✅ Pakistan
✅ Bangladesh
✅ Bhutan
✅ Maldives
✅ Nepal
✅ Sri Lanka
With the home advantage, Sri Lanka’s national team will aim for a strong performance and hopes to lift the SAFF Championship trophy once again. Football fans across the nation eagerly await this historic sporting event, which is expected to boost football’s popularity in the country.