The South Asian Football Federation’s (SAFF) executive committee meeting held virtually on Tuesday, February 14 has decided to hand the hosting rights of the 2023 edition of the SAFF Championship to India and the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
As per the decision of the committee, the rights has been awarded for the next four editions till 2029, while the 2023 edition of the championship has been decided to be held in a centralized venue in India.
However, the venue for this edition of the championship would be confirmed by March 10, as requested by the All India Football Federation.
India has hosted three of the 13 editions of the competition, first in 1999 in Goa followed by 2011 in New Delhi and 2015 in Thiruvananthapuram.
India is the most successful national side in SAFF Cup history having won the competition on eight occasions, finishing runners-up on four occasions and their worst ever finish was third in 2003.
Further the SAFF executive committee has approved the tender bid of Sports Partner International for the marketing and commercial rights of the SAFF Championship.
The SAFF had published a notice inviting tender bids to acquire the rights of the SAFF Championship on December 13, 2022 and received the bid within the deadline on January 16, 2023.