Saff Cup
The Saff Cup, also known as the South Asian Football Federation Cup, is an international football tournament contested by national teams from the member countries of SAFF. Established in 1993, the Saff Cup has grown in popularity over the years, with a large following in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other participating nations.History and Background
The Saff Cup was first held in 1993 when six teams, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, participated in the inaugural tournament. Since then, the competition has expanded to include more countries from the region, with Pakistan joining in 2005 and Bangladesh in 2013.The Saff Cup is considered one of the most prestigious football tournaments in South Asia, providing a platform for national teams to compete against each other and showcase their skills. The tournament is typically held every two years, with the exception of 2020 when it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Format and Schedule
The Saff Cup follows a standard knockout format, where teams are seeded based on their past performance in the tournament. The competition begins with a group stage, followed by quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final match.The group stage consists of two groups of three teams each, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals. The winner of each match is determined by the team that scores the most goals in the allotted time.