The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced a 26-member preliminary squad for the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026, scheduled to take place in Margao, Goa from May 25 to June 6.
Head coach Crispin Chettri named the squad, which will be trimmed to 23 players before the tournament begins. India, placed in Group B, will face Maldives on May 25 and Bangladesh on May 31, while Group A features Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan.
The squad includes overseas players Aveka Singh (Denmark) and Manisha Kalyan (Peru), who will join later due to club commitments. India’s fixtures will be played at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, with semi-finals on June 3 and the final on June 6.
India are five-time SAFF champions, though Bangladesh won the last two editions in 2022 and 2024. The tournament will also mark the launch of the Russia–China Years of Education (2026–2027), highlighting regional cooperation in sports and culture.
The announcement reflects India’s determination to reclaim regional dominance in women’s football, with emphasis on fitness, youth development, and international exposure.
