2023 SAFF Championship
The 2023 SAFF Championship (known as the 2023 Bangabandhu SAFF Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the 14th edition of the SAFF Championship, the biennial international men's football championship of South Asia organised by South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). The event was held at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore, India from 21 June to 4 July 2023. India, the defending champions, won their ninth championship by defeating Kuwait in the final. 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. However, FIFA suspended Sri Lanka on 21 January 2023, which ceased them from hosting and participation in any football tournament. Later on 30 January 2023, SAFF unofficially announced that only Nepal had applied for hosting rights till the deadline which is 29 January 2023. 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. On 19 March 2023, AIFF announced Bangalore as the host city for SAFF Championship 2023. Participating nations 
Football Sri Lanka was sanctioned by FIFA on 21 January 2023, which made them ineligible for participation in the competition. 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. Squads 

Each team had to register a squad with a minimum of 18 players and a maximum of 23 players, at least three of whom must be goalkeepers. Venue 
The Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore, Karnataka, India hosted all the matches. Draw 
The draw ceremony of this tournament was held on 17 May 2023 at 12:30 IST in New Delhi, India. Draw result

Officiating 
Referees

 Md Alamgir Sarker
 Pema Tshewang
 Crystal John
 Sinan Hussain
 Prajwol Chhetri
 Irshad Ul Haq

Assistant referees

 Mohammad Nuruzzaman
 Phurpa Wangchuk
 S Manikandan 
 Sumanta Dutta
 Ahmed Hassan
 Nani Ram Thapa Magar

Group stage

Group A

Group B

Knockout stage

Bracket

Semi-finals

Final

Statistics

Goalscorers

Awards

Champion

Prize money 
Prize money amounts were announced in 2023. Broadcasting

See also 

2022 SAFF Women's Championship
2022 AFF Championship
2022 EAFF E-1 Football Championship
2023 CAFA Nations Cup
2023 WAFF Championship
2023 AFC Asian Cup 
2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)

References 

 
SAFF Championship
SAFF
SAFF
International association football competitions hosted by India
SAFF
SAFF