SAFF Championship Under Scrutiny Over Preparations and Ticket Prices

With just two days to go before the SAFF Championship kicks off in Dhaka, the lack of visible preparations has raised questions over Bangladesh's readiness to host South Asia's biggest football tournament, widely regarded as the region's World Cup.

Despite the importance of the event, there is little sign of the championship around the capital. There has been no trophy unveiling, no visible promotional campaign and no fresh decoration of the stadium or its surrounding areas. At the same time, the decision to set the minimum ticket price at Tk1,000 for a daily pass has drawn criticism, leaving fans to question whether the build-up matches the scale of the tournament.

Bhutan became the first participating team to arrive in Dhaka on Monday, but even their arrival was not officially announced. With the opening matches fast approaching, there is still little clear information about when the other teams will arrive or where they will train.

The lack of a visible build-up is a striking contrast to Bangladesh's reputation for staging major international sporting events. With all the matches scheduled to take place at the National Stadium in Dhaka, the venue's exterior offers few signs that a major regional football tournament is about to begin. There are no banners, digital displays or other promotional materials to create a sense of occasion.

The contrast is even sharper when compared with the 2003 and 2018 editions of the SAFF Championship held in Dhaka, both of which featured a more colourful build-up. This time, the excitement surrounding the tournament appears largely absent.

The arrangement between the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) and the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) may help explain the situation. SAFF has provided Tk50 lakh to Bangladesh as the host nation and signed an agreement with the BFF to manage the tournament independently. As a result, the BFF has largely been left to watch proceedings from the sidelines.

BFF Competition Committee chairman Golam Gaus, who has held several meetings with SAFF officials, expressed his frustration with the preparations.

"SAFF is doing everything itself this time. They are not really listening to us. Whatever we ask, they say everything will be ready on time. But there are only two days left before the tournament starts, and we still cannot see anything from the outside. We are not happy with the situation either. This is a major tournament for us. How can we allow shortcomings in the organisation?" Gaus said.

It is understood that SAFF has appointed an event management company to handle the tournament so that the regional governing body can organise the event on its own terms. However, questions have emerged over the company's suitability for such an important assignment, as it reportedly has little experience of managing events of this scale.

With the opening day drawing closer, concerns are growing over whether the organisers can deliver the atmosphere and presentation expected of a major regional championship. For a tournament carrying the weight of South Asia's biggest football event, the lack of visible preparations in its host city has become an unwelcome talking point before a ball has even been kicked.