The Stage is Set for South Asian Women’s Football
The schedule for the 2024 SAFF Women’s Championship has been unveiled. This much-anticipated event will mark the 7th installment of the championship, pitting the national teams of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) against each other in a thrilling display of international women’s football. Set to take place from 17–30 October 2024, the tournament will be hosted in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Group A Showdown: Pakistan Faces India in Fiery Opener
Among the standout matchups, Pakistan has been placed in Group A and is slated to kick off the competition with a high-stakes game against arch-rival India on October 17 at Dashrath Stadium. Group A also features the reigning champion, Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s Title Defense: Can They Repeat Their Success?
Speaking of Bangladesh’s triumph, they emerged victorious in the final of the 2022 edition. The compelling showdown took place on 19 September 2022 at the Dasharath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu, where they secured a 3–1 victory over Nepal to claim their maiden SAFF title.
On the other hand, Pakistan will face Bangladesh in their subsequent matchup on October 20. Recalling the previous edition of the SAFF in 2022, Pakistan faced two defeats in the group stage, with their sole resounding victory being a 7-0 win against Maldives, largely thanks to Nadia Khan’s four-goal performance.
Group B Battle: Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bhutan Vie for Glory
As for Group B, it will consist of Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bhutan, with their matches scheduled to take place from October 18 through October 24.
The Road to the Final: Semifinals and Championship Match
The semi-final matches are pegged for October 27 in Kathmandu, pitting the winners and runners-up from the two groups, with the grand final set to take place on October 30, 2024.