KATHMANDU, Aug 9: The 13th edition of SAFF Championship will be held in the Maldives from October 1-13.
The SAFF Executive Committee meeting on Monday took the decision after reviewing proposals from both Maldives and Nepal for hosting the championship.
"SAFF decided to hold the Championship in Maldives as the Covid-19 situation there is better than ours. Also it has been long since Maldives last hosted the Championship," ANFA General Secretary Indraman Tuladhar said.
The last time the Championship was held in Maldives was in 2008. Maldives and Sri Lanka had jointly hosted the Championship which was won by Maldives.
Five nations―Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka―have confirmed their participation in the Championship while Bhutan will confirm its participation in three days.
Nepal had received a conditional hosting offer from SAFF to hold the Championship. Both Nepal and Maldives had submitted proposals to host the championship.
The biennial men's football championship has been held twice in Nepal, first in 1997 and the second in 2013 where Nepal lost to Afghanistan in the semi-final.
India has been the most successful country in the championship lifting the title on seven occasions. Nepal are yet to reach the final of the Championship.
