South Asian football rivals Bangladesh and India are set to face off in the highly anticipated final of the SAFF U-20 Championship 2026 today (Friday) at 9 pm (BST).
The championship match will take place at the National Football Stadium in the Maldivian capital Male.
Both teams enter the final following dominant performances throughout the tournament, setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter between the region's top youth prospects.
The journey to the final saw both finalists start their campaigns with victories over Pakistan in the group stages.
Bangladesh secured a 2-0 win in their opening match, while India recorded a 3-0 shutout against the same opponent.
When the two sides met during the group phase, they played out a closely contested 1-1 draw, suggesting that tonight’s final could be equally competitive.
In the knockout rounds, Bangladesh secured their spot in the title match by edging past Nepal with a disciplined 1-0 victory in the first semifinal.
India, meanwhile, reached the final in emphatic style, crushing Bhutan 5-0 in the second semifinal.
With both teams boasting unbeaten records in the tournament so far, tonight’s clash will determine the undisputed champion of South Asian U-20 football.
