Pakistan withdraws from 2026 SAFF Women's Championship in India

Key facts

• The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) officially withdrew from the 2026 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women's Championship.
• The tournament is scheduled to take place from May 25 to June 6 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa.
• The championship will proceed with a six-nation lineup consisting of India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Maldives.
• Bangladesh is the defending champion, having won the 2022 and 2024 editions.
• India is the record five-time champion of the SAFF Women's Championship, with titles won in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2019.
• India previously hosted the SAFF Women's Championship in 2016 in Siliguri, West Bengal.
• The Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium previously hosted the 1999 men's championship, where India won the title by defeating Bangladesh in the final.