India Reclaim SAFF Women’s Championship Title with Victory Over Bangladesh

India were crowned champions of the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 after defeating defending champions Bangladesh 3-1 in the final played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Saturday. The victory saw India regain the regional crown after Bangladesh had won the previous two editions.

The hosts produced a dominant performance throughout the tournament and carried that form into the final, overcoming a Bangladesh side that had been aiming to secure a historic third consecutive SAFF title. India’s triumph marks their return to the top of South Asian women’s football after last lifting the trophy in 2019.

Bangladesh entered the final as defending champions and had shown their strength during the tournament, but India proved too strong on the day. The final was the latest chapter in a growing rivalry between the two regional powers, who had also met in the group stage where India secured a convincing 3-0 victory.

For the Maldives, the tournament proved to be a difficult campaign in a challenging group. The Maldives suffered an 11-0 defeat against India in their opening match before losing 4-2 to Bangladesh in their second and final group-stage fixture. Despite the results, the tournament provided valuable experience for the Maldivian side against two of South Asia’s strongest women’s teams.

The championship concluded with India lifting the trophy in front of home supporters in Goa, ending Bangladesh’s reign as champions and re-establishing themselves as the leading force in South Asian women’s football.