Sri Lanka aiming to prove a point at South Asian U-20 football

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka has decided to field a competitive team for the upcoming South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Under-20 Championship 2026, aiming for a showing at the regional level.

The SAFF U-20 Championship will be staged in the Maldives from March 23 to April 1 ahead of the International Invitation Diamond Jubilee Football Tournament scheduled for June–July 2026. 

The tournament forms part of celebrations marking 75 years of football in the Maldives.

All South Asian nations have confirmed participation, including Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and host Maldives.

The teams have been divided into two groups, with Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives competing in Group A while Bangladesh, India and Pakistan will battle it out in Group B.

The tournament is set to kick off on March 23 with a Group A opening clash between host Maldives and Sri Lanka, giving the Sri Lankan youngsters an immediate high-profile challenge. 

Sri Lanka will then face Nepal on March 25 and Bhutan on March 27 to conclude their group-stage fixtures. Following the group stage, the competition will move into the knockout rounds, with the semi-finals scheduled for April 1 and the final to be played on April 3.

In preparation for both the SAFF U-20 Championship and the subsequent Diamond Jubilee international tournament, the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) has already begun the process of forming the national player pool, focusing on building a well-balanced and competitive youth squad capable of representing Sri Lanka with distinction on the South Asian stage.