Officials of the Sports Authority of Goa and the Goa Football Association announce the details of the tournament on Tuesday.
PANAJI
Goa will host the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 for the first time, with the tournament scheduled from May 25 to June 7 at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda.
The announcement was made at a press conference at the Secretariat in Porvorim, attended by officials of the Sports Authority of Goa and the Goa Football Association (GFA).
This will be the first SAFF Championship hosted in Goa since the men’s edition in 1999. Six teams — India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bhutan — will compete in the tournament, which is expected to showcase some of South Asia’s top women footballers.
The group stage will be held on May 25, 28 and 31, followed by the semi-finals on June 4 and the final on June 7, with two matches scheduled each day (kickoff at 4 pm and 7.30 pm).
GFA President Dr Caitano Fernandes said, “This is a high-profile tournament. India and Bangladesh have just returned from competing at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia and to have that quality of football here in Goa is something truly special.”
He added, “We are deeply grateful to SAFF, the All India Football Federation and the Government of Goa for their support in making this tournament possible.”
Sports Authority of Goa Executive Director Ajay Gaude said, “Goa has always been proactive in hosting major sporting events, and the return of the SAFF Championship after 27 years is a moment of great pride for Goa and for India.
“The GFA has worked tremendously hard to bring this tournament back to our state and as the Sports Authority of Goa and the Government of Goa, we are fully committed to ensuring it is delivered to the highest standard. We are grateful to SAFF, the AIFF and the Government of India for their confidence in Goa as a host,” Gaude said.
