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Reports of India’s SAFF pullout have left the tournament in doubt, despite previous assurances from AIFF officials that the defending champions would take part.
India’s players line up for national anthem before an International friendly Football match between India and Uruguay (Picture credit: PTI)
The All India Football Federation has informed the South Asian Football Federation that it will not send the Indian team to Bangladesh for the upcoming SAFF Championship, according to a report in Kalbela.
India’s absence would be a major blow, with the defending champions having defeated Kuwait in the 2023 final on home soil. With nine titles, India are the most successful team in SAFF Championship history.
India’s absence would leave a significant void in the tournament, but the issue has little to do with recent political tensions. Instead, it stems from the long-standing tussle between clubs and the national football federation.
ISL clubs are reluctant to release footballers outside the FIFA window, but the issue may be premature, as the AIFF has yet to initiate the process of securing their release beyond the designated period.
But uncertainty persists, with officials contradicting the claims made by sources. Both SAFF and the local organisers, the Bangladesh Football Federation, said that they had received no such information.
SAFF president Kazi Md Salahuddin offered a blunt response, saying, “I don’t know anything about this.” BFF vice-president Fahad Karim, meanwhile, provided a more detailed explanation, insisting that the situation shouldn’t have arisen.
“This should not happen. An Indian representative was present at the draw ceremony. If the country were not participating, its representative would not have attended the event,” Karim said while speaking to Kalbela.
The argument holds weight. AIFF vice-president NA Haris, known as Nalapad Ahmed Haris as well, represented India at the draw ceremony and had even assured the organisers that the nation would take part.
India were placed in Group B alongside the Maldives and Pakistan, with their campaign scheduled to start against the Maldives on November 5, followed by a clash with Pakistan on November 11.
On November 5, Mohun Bagan play Odisha in the ISL, while Chennaiyin FC face East Bengal on Saturday, November 7. The next match is only on November 20.
But according to the report, the situation shifted after the draw. The new Indian Super League season started on Saturday, October 10, with the opening round completed and a second-round game already played.
With the domestic club football season starting to gather pace, the SAFF Championship, scheduled for November 4 to 17, presented another challenge, with the tournament clashing with multiple key league fixtures.
The irony is striking. Scheduled for September, the tournament was moved to November to accommodate India’s ASEAN Cup commitments. Yet, the very team for whose benefit the dates were changed is now at the heart of the uncertainty.
Notably, India didn’t play the ASEAN Cup to ensure participation in FIFA friendlies against Panama, Brazil and Uruguay. They are set to play two more matches against New Zealand on November 12 and 15.
India’s withdrawal would leave the tournament with just five teams, with Nepal’s participation already in jeopardy because of the FIFA suspension looming over the country.
The draw was held with Nepal’s participation conditional on FIFA lifting the suspension within the stipulated deadline. With the ban remaining in place, the tournament was all set to go ahead with six teams.
Now, news of India’s withdrawal has thrown the numbers into further uncertainty.
The central question is no longer just whether one team will take part, but what lies ahead for football in the region.
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Ask News18India’s potential withdrawal stems from a long-standing tussle between clubs and the national football federation, as Indian Super League clubs are reluctant to release players outside the FIFA window. The tournament dates clash with multiple key league fixtures after the domestic club season gathered pace.
Ask News18October 17, 2026, 16:24 IST
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