(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Pakistan Withdraws from SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 in India
South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Championship 2026 will go ahead without Pakistan after the national team decided to withdraw from the tournament scheduled to be held in India.
The decision comes amid ongoing political tensions between the two neighboring countries, resulting in Pakistan opting out of the regional competition.
Tournament to Proceed With Six Teams
With Pakistan’s withdrawal, the event will now be played as a six-team tournament instead of seven.
The competition is set to take place in Goa from May 25 to June 7, featuring top teams from South Asia competing for the regional title.
Confirmed Groups for SAFF Women’s Championship 2026
SAFF has officially announced the group stage line-up:
Group A
- Nepal
- Sri Lanka
- Bhutan
Group B
- India (Hosts)
- Bangladesh
- Maldives
Impact on Pakistan Women’s Team
Pakistan Women’s National Football Team’s absence is seen as a setback, as the team was expected to participate and gain valuable match experience at the regional level.
Regular international competitions like the SAFF Championship play an important role in improving performance, exposure, and rankings.
Focus Shifts to Remaining Teams
With Pakistan out of the tournament, attention will now turn to the remaining six teams competing in Goa.
The event is expected to provide a competitive platform for women’s football in South Asia as teams aim to strengthen their presence on the regional stage.
