Music, fireworks and dancing robot light up SAFF opening ceremony

A colourful blend of music, fireworks and a dancing robot marked the opening ceremony of the 15th SAFF Championship in Dhaka, setting a festive tone for South Asia’s premier football tournament.

The ceremony took place after the afternoon's opening match between India and Pakistan, which kicked off at 3:30pm. As soon as the match ended, the stadium lights went out to make way for the show.

Initially, only around 20 per cent of the stands were occupied. However, spectators gradually made their way into the stadium as the programme got under way, filling the seats ahead of the evening's main attraction.

The show opened with a laser display before turning into a live music concert. Singers Aditi Rahman Dola and Moidul Islam Khan Shuvo thrilled the crowd with the official 2026 SAFF anthem, joined by Asif Ifteza, who performed the rap section.

Sanjay Dev then took centre stage with his group, performing several popular hits. Having recently performed at the World Cup in North America, Dev helped lift the festive atmosphere across the stadium.

One of the night's biggest attractions was a dancing Tecno robot, which performed to DJ tracks alongside human dancers dressed in black-and-white striped outfits. The combination of technology, music and dance drew cheers from the spectators.

The cultural programme concluded with a spectacular fireworks display that lit up the Dhaka sky.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque then officially unveiled the tournament trophy, adding to the excitement ahead of the night's main fixture between hosts Bangladesh and Bhutan.

The tournament has returned to Bangladesh for the first time since 2018, with six South Asian nations competing for the title from 5 to 17 November.