2021 SAFF Championship#Group stage

On 11 April 2018, SAFF decided to allow Pakistan to host the tournament after the restoration of Pakistan Football Federation's membership by FIFA and since then it would be country's first international football tournaments.{{Cite web |date=12 April 2018 |title=Pakistan to host SAFF Football Championship 2020 |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/227019/pakistan-to-host-saff-football-championship-2020/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608132829/https://dailytimes.com.pk/227019/pakistan-to-host-saff-football-championship-2020/ |archive-date=8 June 2019 |access-date=8 June 2019 |website=Daily Times}}{{Cite web |date=14 April 2018 |title=Pakistan to host South Asia football championship and two other soccer tournaments |url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/1284551/sport |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706193034/http://www.arabnews.com/node/1284551/sport |archive-date=6 July 2019 |access-date=5 July 2019 |website=Arab News |language=en}} However, on 15 September 2019, SAFF president Kazi Salahuddin and general secretary Anwarul Haque Helal along with representatives of seven member countries decided to host the regional tournament in Bangladesh. This was to be the last edition to be held in even years, as it was decided that the subsequent editions would be held in odd years.{{Cite web |date=16 September 2019 |title=Bangladesh to host SAFF Championship in Sept 2020 |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/sports/news/201883/Bangladesh-to-host-SAFF-Championship-in-Sept-2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003064255/https://en.prothomalo.com/sports/news/201883/Bangladesh-to-host-SAFF-Championship-in-Sept-2020 |archive-date=3 October 2019 |access-date=18 September 2019 |website=Prothom Alo |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=17 September 2019 |title=BD to host SAFF C'ship in Sept, 2020 |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/football/news/bd-host-saff-cship-sept-2020-1801165 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005175744/https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/football/news/bd-host-saff-cship-sept-2020-1801165 |archive-date=5 October 2019 |publisher=The Daily Star |accessdate=4 October 2019}}

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament was postponed from its original date of 2020 to 2021,{{Cite web |title=Coronavirus: SAFF Championship postponed to 2021 |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/coronavirus-saff-championship-postponed-to-2021/1usbkrzre8sn71nqtym2iy58vh |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017220802/https://www.goal.com/en/news/coronavirus-saff-championship-postponed-to-2021/1usbkrzre8sn71nqtym2iy58vh |archive-date=17 October 2020 |access-date=30 June 2020 |website=Goal |language=en}} and it was supposed to be held in September 2021.{{Cite news |title=Executive Committee Meeting (SAFF) |url=https://saffederation.org/executive-committee-meeting/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117064031/https://saffederation.org/executive-committee-meeting/ |archive-date=17 January 2021}} Later, Bangladesh withdrew from hosting due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of sponsors,{{Cite web |date=23 July 2021 |title=Football federation 'unwilling' to arrange SAFF Championship |url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/sports/football-federation-unwilling-to-arrange-saff-championship-1627051505 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724072848/https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/sports/football-federation-unwilling-to-arrange-saff-championship-1627051505 |archive-date=24 July 2021 |publisher=The Financial Express |accessdate=23 July 2021}}{{Cite news |date=23 July 2021 |title=BFF 'unwilling' to organise SAFF Championship |work=Daily Bdnews24 |url=https://m.bdnews24.com/en/detail/sport/1917720 |url-status=live |access-date=26 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726153603/https://m.bdnews24.com/en/detail/sport/1917720 |archive-date=26 July 2021}} after which Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli asked All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) to "initiate the process" of hosting the tournament in Nepal.{{Cite news |title=ANFA bid to host 13th SAFF Championship in Nepal gets Prime Minister's nod |publisher=The Kathmandu Post |url=https://kathmandupost.com/sports/2021/07/11/anfa-bid-to-host-13th-saff-championship-in-nepal-gets-prime-minister-s-nod |url-status=live |access-date=9 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809071326/https://kathmandupost.com/sports/2021/07/11/anfa-bid-to-host-13th-saff-championship-in-nepal-gets-prime-minister-s-nod |archive-date=9 August 2021}} In July, the ANFA received an offer to host the tournament.{{Cite web |date=25 July 2021 |title=Nepal receive conditional offer to host SAFF Championship |url=https://the-anfa.com/news-detail/1213 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728134515/https://the-anfa.com/news-detail/1213 |archive-date=28 July 2021 |access-date=28 July 2021 |website=ANFA |publisher=All Nepal Football Association}}{{Cite news |date=25 July 2021 |title=Nepal receives an offer to host SAFF Championship 2021 |publisher=Online Khabar English |url=https://english.onlinekhabar.com/nepal-receives-an-offer-to-host-saff-championship-2021.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728133953/https://english.onlinekhabar.com/nepal-receives-an-offer-to-host-saff-championship-2021.html |archive-date=28 July 2021}} Meanwhile, the Football Association of Maldives submitted their bid to host the tournament.{{Cite news |last=Male |first=K. |date=2 August 2021 |title=Maldives officially submits bid to host SAFF Championship 2021 |publisher=raajjee |url=https://raajje.mv/104176 |url-status=live |access-date=2 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802095832/https://raajje.mv/104176 |archive-date=2 August 2021}}{{Cite news |date=31 July 2021 |title=Maldives Submits Bid To Host SAFF Championship 2021 |publisher=goalnepal |url=https://www.goalnepal.com/news/detail/11411 |url-status=live |access-date=2 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802104444/https://www.goalnepal.com/news/detail/11411 |archive-date=2 August 2021}} On 9 August 2021, Maldives was declared as the hosts after an online meeting of the executive committee.{{Cite press release |title=South Asian Football Federation (SAFF)'s Press Release |publisher=South Asian Football Federation |url=https://saffederation.org/south-asian-football-federation-saffs-press-release/ |access-date=13 August 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813103827/https://saffederation.org/south-asian-football-federation-saffs-press-release/ |archive-date=13 August 2021 |work=SAFF}}{{Cite news |title=Nepal loses the SAFF Championship hosting opportunity to the Maldives |publisher=Online Khabar English |url=https://english.onlinekhabar.com/nepal-loses-the-saff-championship-hosting-opportunity-to-the-maldives.html |url-status=live |access-date=11 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809133921/https://english.onlinekhabar.com/nepal-loses-the-saff-championship-hosting-opportunity-to-the-maldives.html |archive-date=9 August 2021}}

The Pakistan Football Federation was sanctioned by FIFA in April 2021, hence they were ineligible to participate in the competition.{{Cite news |title=FIFA suspends Chad and Pakistan football associations |publisher=FIFA |url=https://www.fifa.com/who-we-are/news/fifa-suspends-chad-and-pakistan-football-associations |url-status=live |access-date=7 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407143916/https://www.fifa.com/who-we-are/news/fifa-suspends-chad-and-pakistan-football-associations |archive-date=7 April 2021}} Bhutan initially abstained from participation as their government refused to permit the national football team to travel abroad.{{Cite news |date=1 July 2021 |title=সাফ ফুটবলে খেলবে না বলছে ভুটান |publisher=Daily Prothom Alo |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/football/সাফ-ফুটবলে-খেলবে-না-বলছে-ভুটান |url-status=live |access-date=24 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725125252/https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/football/%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AB-%E0%A6%AB%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%96%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AD%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8 |archive-date=25 July 2021 |lang=bn}}{{Cite news |title=SAFF Championship 2021 Is In Limbo ! |publisher=Goal Nepal |url=https://goalnepal.com/news/detail/11281 |url-status=live |access-date=6 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705064325/https://goalnepal.com/news/detail/11281 |archive-date=5 July 2021}} However, Bhutan's withdrawal was only confirmed when the fixtures were released on 18 August 2021.{{Cite web |title=Nepal begin SAFF Championship against hosts Maldives |url=https://the-anfa.com/news-detail/1230 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818115502/https://the-anfa.com/news-detail/1230 |archive-date=18 August 2021 |access-date=18 August 2021 |website=ANFA |publisher=All Nepal Football Association}}

For the list of squads that appeared in the tournament, see 2021 SAFF Championship squads.

The National Football Stadium in capital Malé hosted all the matches.

;Referees

{{colbegin|colwidth=18em}}

• {{fbaicon|IRQ}} Yousif Saeed Hassan
• {{fbaicon|KUW}} Ammar Ashkanani
• {{fbaicon|KSA}} Majed Al-Shamrani
• {{fbaicon|SYR}} Feras Taweel
• {{fbaicon|TJK}} Sajëçon Zayniddinov
• {{fbaicon|UZB}} Akhrol Riskullaev

{{colend}}

;Assistant Referees

{{colbegin|colwidth=18em}}

• {{fbaicon|BAN}} Ahmed Sabah
• {{fbaicon|IRQ}} Ahmed Sabah Qasim Al-Baghadi
• {{fbaicon|KUW}} Yaquob Al-Mutairi
• {{fbaicon|KSA}} Omar Ali Al-Jamal
• {{fbaicon|SYR}} Mohamad Kazzaz
• {{fbaicon|TJK}} Farhod Kuralov
• {{fbaicon|UZB}} Husniddin Shodmonov

{{colend}}

{{Hatnote|All times listed below are local, MVT (UTC+05:00).}}

After the suspension of Pakistan and the withdrawal of Bhutan, the format was changed to a single group round robin format where the top two teams advance to the final.{{Cite web |last=Mukherjee |first=Soham |date=9 September 2021 |title=SAFF Championship 2021: Everything you need to know |url=https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/all-you-need-to-know-saff-championship-2021-india-national/6r9qsaun8dn01c49l3i4f8qgz |access-date=13 September 2021 |website=Goal |archive-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913075500/https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/all-you-need-to-know-saff-championship-2021-india-national/6r9qsaun8dn01c49l3i4f8qgz |url-status=live }}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|source=[https://int.soccerway.com/international/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/2020/group-stage/r50023/tables/ Soccerway]

|teamwidth=180

|name_BAN={{fb|BAN}}

|name_IND={{fb|IND}}

|name_MDV={{fb|MDV}}

|name_NEP={{fb|NEP}}

|name_SRI={{fb|SRI}}

|update=complete

|win_BAN=1|draw_BAN=2|loss_BAN=1|gf_BAN=3|ga_BAN=4

|win_IND=2|draw_IND=2|loss_IND=0|gf_IND=5|ga_IND=2

|win_MDV=2|draw_MDV=0|loss_MDV=2|gf_MDV=4|ga_MDV=4|status_MDV=H

|win_NEP=2|draw_NEP=1|loss_NEP=1|gf_NEP=5|ga_NEP=4

|win_SRI=0|draw_SRI=1|loss_SRI=3|gf_SRI=2|ga_SRI=5

|team_order = IND, NEP, MDV, BAN, SRI

|res_col_header=Q

|result1=FI |result2=FI

|col_FI=green1 |text_FI=Advance to the final

|class_rules=1) Points; 2) Head to Head; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored{{cite web|url=https://www.sofascore.com/tournament/football/asia/saff-championship/2354|title=SAFF Championship 2021|work=SofaScore|access-date=6 October 2021}}

}}

{{football box

|id = Sri Lanka v Bangladesh

|date = {{start date|2021|10|1|df=y}}

|time = 16:00

|stadium = National Football Stadium

|location = Malé

|team1 = {{fb-rt|SRI}}

|team2 = {{fb|BAN}}

|score1 = 0

|score2 = 1

|goals2 = Barman {{goal|56|pen.}}

|attendance = 2,500

|referee = Feras Taweel (Syria)

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/01/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/sri-lanka/bangladesh/3627850/

}}

{{football box

|id = Nepal v Maldives

|date = {{start date|2021|10|1|df=y}}

|time = 21:00

|stadium = National Football Stadium

|location = Malé

|team1 = {{fb-rt|NEP}}

|team2 = {{fb|MDV}}

|score1 = 1

|score2 = 0

|goals1 = Dangi {{goal|86}}

|attendance = 5,000

|referee = Akhrol Riskullayev (Uzbekistan)

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/01/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/nepal/maldives/3627849/

}}

----

{{football box

|id = Bangladesh v India

|date = {{start date|2021|10|4|df=y}}

|time = 16:00

|stadium = National Football Stadium

|location = Malé

|team1 = {{fb-rt|BAN}}

|team2 = {{fb|IND}}

|score1 = 1

|score2 = 1

|goals1 = Arafat {{goal|74}}

|goals2 = Chhetri {{goal|26}}

|attendance =

|referee = Majed Al-Shamrani (Saudi Arabia)

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/04/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/bangladesh/india/3627851/

}}

{{football box

|id = Sri Lanka v Nepal

|date = {{start date|2021|10|4|df=y}}

|time = 21:00

|stadium = National Football Stadium

|location = Malé

|team1 = {{fb-rt|SRI}}

|team2 = {{fb|NEP}}

|score1 = 2

|score2 = 3

|goals1 =

• Hamilton {{goal|57}}
• De Silva {{goal|90+4|pen.}}

|goals2 =

• S. Lama {{goal|33}}
• Bista {{goal|51}}
• Ghalan {{goal|86}}

|attendance =

|referee = Ammar Ashkanani (Kuwait)

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/04/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/sri-lanka/nepal/3627852/

}}

----

{{football box

|id = India v Sri Lanka

|date = {{start date|2021|10|7|df=y}}

|time = 16:00

|stadium = National Football Stadium

|location = Malé

|team1 = {{fb-rt|IND}}

|team2 = {{fb|SRI}}

|score1 = 0

|score2 = 0

|attendance =

|referee = Sajëçon Zajniddinov (Tajikistan)

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/07/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/india/sri-lanka/3627853/

}}

{{football box

|id = Maldives v Bangladesh

|date = {{start date|2021|10|7|df=y}}

|time = 21:00

|stadium = National Football Stadium

|location = Malé

|team1 = {{fb-rt|MDV}}

|team2 = {{fb|BAN}}

|score1 = 2

|score2 = 0

|goals1 =

• Mohamed {{goal|55}}
• Ashfaq {{goal|74|pen.}}

|attendance =

|referee = Yousif Saeed Hassan (Iraq)

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/07/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/maldives/bangladesh/3627854/

}}

----

{{football box

|id = Maldives v Sri Lanka

|date = {{start date|2021|10|10|df=y}}

|time = 16:00

|stadium = National Football Stadium

|location = Malé

|team1 = {{fb-rt|MDV}}

|team2 = {{fb|SRI}}

|score1 = 1

|score2 = 0

|goals1 =

• Ashfaq {{goal|6}}

|attendance = 5,000

|referee = Majed Al-Shamrani (Saudi Arabia)

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/10/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/maldives/sri-lanka/3627855/

}}

{{football box

|id = Nepal v India

|date = {{start date|2021|10|10|df=y}}

|time = 21:00

|stadium = National Football Stadium

|location = Malé

|team1 = {{fb-rt|NEP}}

|team2 = {{fb|IND}}

|score1 = 0

|score2 = 1

|goals2 = Chhetri {{goal|82}}

|attendance =

|referee = Yousif Saeed Hassan (Iraq)

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/10/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/nepal/india/3627856/

}}

----

{{football box

|id = Bangladesh v Nepal

|date = {{start date|2021|10|13|df=y}}

|time = 16:00

|stadium = National Football Stadium

|location = Malé

|team1 = {{fb-rt|BAN}}

|team2 = {{fb|NEP}}

|score1 = 1

|score2 = 1

|goals1 = Reza {{goal|9}}

|goals2 = Bista {{goal|88|pen.}}

|attendance =

|referee = Akhrol Riskullaev (Uzbekistan)

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/13/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/bangladesh/nepal/3627857/

}}

{{football box

|id = India v Maldives

|date = {{start date|2021|10|13|df=y}}

|time = 21:00

|stadium = National Football Stadium

|location = Malé

|team1 = {{fb-rt|IND}}

|team2 = {{fb|MDV}}

|score1 = 3

|score2 = 1

|goals1 =

• M. Singh {{goal|33}}
• Chhetri {{goal|62||71}}

|goals2 = Ashfaq {{goal|45|pen.}}

|attendance = 5,000

|referee = Ammar Ashkanani (Kuwait)

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/13/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/india/maldives/3627858/

}}

{{Football box

| id = Final

| date = {{Start date|2021|10|16|df=y}}

| time = 20:00

| team1 = {{fb-rt|IND}}

| score1 = 3

| team2 = {{fb|NEP}}

| score2 = 0

| goals1 =

• Chhetri {{goal|49}}
• Wangjam {{goal|50}}
• Samad {{goal|90+1}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = National Football Stadium

| location = Malé

| attendance =

| referee = Majed Al-Shamrani (Saudi Arabia)

| report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/16/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/india/nepal/3627859/

}}

{{winners|fb|SAFF Championship 2021|India|Eighth}}

{{goalscorers

|updated=|matches=11|goals=22|source=[https://int.soccerway.com/international/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/2020/group-stage/r50023/players/ Soccerway]

|5 goals=

• {{fbicon|IND}} Sunil Chhetri

|3 goals=

• {{fbicon|MDV}} Ali Ashfaq

|2 goals=

• {{fbicon|NEP}} Anjan Bista

|1 goal=

• {{fbicon|BAN}} Yeasin Arafat
• {{fbicon|BAN}} Topu Barman
• {{fbicon|BAN}} Sumon Reza
• {{fbicon|IND}} Manvir Singh
• {{fbicon|IND}} Sahal Abdul Samad
• {{fbicon|IND}} Suresh Singh Wangjam
• {{fbicon|MDV}} Hamza Mohamed
• {{fbicon|NEP}} Manish Dangi
• {{fbicon|NEP}} Ayush Ghalan
• {{fbicon|NEP}} Suman Lama
• {{fbicon|SRI}} Dillon De Silva
• {{fbicon|SRI}} Marvin Hamilton

}}

Prize money amounts were announced in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://thesportsgrail.com/saff-championship-2021-awards-and-winners-prize-money-golden-boot-glove-best-player-of-the-tournament-and-fair-play-award/|title=SAFF Championship 2021 Awards And Winners|website=Sportsgrail|date=17 October 2021 |access-date=17 October 2021}}

{{reflist}}

{{SAFF Championship}}

{{2021 in Asian football (AFC)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:SAFF Championship, 2021}}

Category:2021 in Asian football

2021

Category:Association football events postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Category:October 2021 sports events in Asia

Category:2021 SAFF Championship

Category:International association football competitions hosted by the Maldives