India, the defending champions, won their ninth championship by defeating
Kuwait in
the final.[2]
Host selection
At the SAFF Executive Committee meeting, held on 17 October 2021 in the
Maldives,
Football Sri Lanka expressed their interest to bid for hosting the tournament.[3] However,
FIFA suspended Sri Lanka on 21 January 2023, which ceased them from hosting and participation in any football tournament.[4]
Later on 30 January 2023, SAFF unofficially announced that only
Nepal had applied for hosting rights till the deadline which is 29 January 2023.[5] The host was supposed to be announced following the SAFF members' meeting during 33rd AFC Congress in
Manama,
Bahrain on 1 February 2023. On 14 February 2023,
India were declared as the hosts of the 14th edition of the championship.[6][7] On 19 March 2023, AIFF announced
Bangalore as the host city for SAFF Championship 2023.[8]
Participating nations
Football Sri Lanka was sanctioned by FIFA on 21 January 2023, which made them ineligible for participation in the competition.[4]Kuwait and
Lebanon were invited as guest teams with a view to increase the number of teams for the championship and make the event more competitive.[9]
India, the defending champions, won their ninth championship by defeating
Kuwait in
the final.[2]
Host selection
At the SAFF Executive Committee meeting, held on 17 October 2021 in the
Maldives,
Football Sri Lanka expressed their interest to bid for hosting the tournament.[3] However,
FIFA suspended Sri Lanka on 21 January 2023, which ceased them from hosting and participation in any football tournament.[4]
Later on 30 January 2023, SAFF unofficially announced that only
Nepal had applied for hosting rights till the deadline which is 29 January 2023.[5] The host was supposed to be announced following the SAFF members' meeting during 33rd AFC Congress in
Manama,
Bahrain on 1 February 2023. On 14 February 2023,
India were declared as the hosts of the 14th edition of the championship.[6][7] On 19 March 2023, AIFF announced
Bangalore as the host city for SAFF Championship 2023.[8]
Participating nations
Football Sri Lanka was sanctioned by FIFA on 21 January 2023, which made them ineligible for participation in the competition.[4]Kuwait and
Lebanon were invited as guest teams with a view to increase the number of teams for the championship and make the event more competitive.[9]