The 15th edition of the SAFF Championship is set to get underway in June this year, as the executive committee of the South Asian Football Federation today approved a new format of home-and-away matches for the regional football championship.

Previously, all SAFF Championships were held at a centralised venue, but this time the regional football governing body has decided to shift to a home-and-away format on the recommendation of its sponsoring partner, Sports 5.

"The meeting decided to hold the SAFF Championship in a new format on a home-and-away basis, and it will take nearly 30 to 35 days after starting in June 15 this year," SAFF general secretary Anwarul Haque stated.

"If any problems regarding the tournament arise, the tournament will be held at a centralised venue," said the former General Secretary of the Bangladesh Football Federation.

The SAFF Championship is the most competitive football tournament in this region. While the Maldives won the tournament in 2008 and 2018, India, the most successful team, won the most recent tournament held in Bengaluru, India in 2023. Kuwait and Lebanon also competed in the most recent SAFF Championship. This was also a completely new change.