The 2024 SAFF Club Championship or the 2024 SCC will be the inaugural edition of the SAFF Club Championship, an annual international men's club football championship of South Asia organised by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).[1][2][3][4]
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | August 2024 |
| Teams | 8 (from 7 associations) |
Format edit
Initially, a centralized venue was planned for the tournament. Eventually, a home-and-away format over six or seven months was finalized as the AIFF expressed reservations over allotting two weeks during the regular Indian football calendar.[5][6]
Association team allocation edit
A total of 8 teams from 7 SAFF member associations are set to participate in the 2024 SAFF Club Championship. The association ranking based on the FIFA World Ranking is used to determine the number of participating teams for each association. This will include two teams from India and one team from Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.[7][8]
| SAFF | Association | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  India
|
2 |
| 2 |  Maldives
|
1 |
| 3 |  Nepal
|
1 |
| 4 |  Bangladesh
|
1 |
| 5 |  Bhutan
|
1 |
| 6 |  Pakistan
|
1 |
| 7 |  Sri Lanka
|
1 |
| Total | 8 | |
Qualification edit
Pakistan edit
In December 2023, it was announced by the PFF that the Pakistani spot in 2024 SAFF Club Championship would be decided through qualifiers.[9][10] However, none of the clubs have yet confirmed their participation.[11]
Sri Lanka edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Star (C, Q) | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 9 | +12 | 22 | Qualification for AFC Cup preliminary round 1 |
| 2 | Sea Hawks | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 11 | +5 | 19[a] | |
| 3 | Colombo | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 11 | +11 | 19[a] | |
| 4 | Renown | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 17 | |
| 5 | Up Country Lions | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 8 | +9 | 16 | |
| 6 | Red Stars | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 16 | +2 | 10 | |
| 7 | Defenders | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 10 | |
| 8 | New Young's | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 31 | −18 | 7 | |
| 9 | Ratnam | 9 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 16 | −11 | 3 | |
| 10 | Blue Eagles | 9 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 16 | −13 | 2 |
India edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohun Bagan SG (C) | 22 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 47 | 26 | +21 | 48 | Playoff semi-finals and AFC Champions League 2 group stage |
| 2 | Mumbai City (W) | 22 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 42 | 19 | +23 | 47 | Playoff semi-finals and SAFF Club Championship |
| 3 | Goa | 22 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 39 | 21 | +18 | 45 | Playoff knockouts and SAFF Club Championship |
| 4 | Odisha | 22 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 35 | 23 | +12 | 39 | Playoff knockouts |
| 5 | Kerala Blasters | 22 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 32 | 31 | +1 | 33 | |
| 6 | Chennaiyin | 22 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 26 | 36 | −10 | 27 | |
| 7 | NorthEast United | 22 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 28 | 32 | −4 | 26 | |
| 8 | Punjab | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 28 | 35 | −7 | 24[a] | |
| 9 | East Bengal (S) | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 27 | 29 | −2 | 24[a] | AFC Champions League 2 preliminary stage[b] |
| 10 | Bengaluru | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 20 | 34 | −14 | 22 | |
| 11 | Jamshedpur | 22 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 27 | 32 | −5 | 21 | |
| 12 | Hyderabad | 22 | 1 | 5 | 16 | 10 | 43 | −33 | 8 |
Source: Indian Super League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored; 7) fair play ranking; 8) drawing of lots
(C) Champions; (S) Super Cup Winners; (W) ISL Cup Winners
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored; 7) fair play ranking; 8) drawing of lots
(C) Champions; (S) Super Cup Winners; (W) ISL Cup Winners
Notes:
- ^ a b Head-to-head points: Punjab 4, East Bengal 1.
- ^ East Bengal qualified for the AFC Champions League 2 preliminary stage by winning the 2024 Super Cup.[12]
Bangladesh edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bashundhara Kings | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 9 | +33 | 37 | Qualification for the AFC Challenge League play-off round |
| 2 | Mohammedan SC | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 31 | 10 | +21 | 28 | |
| 3 | Dhaka Abahani | 15 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 23 | 17 | +6 | 26 | |
| 4 | Bangladesh Police FC | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 15 | +3 | 22 | |
| 5 | Chittagong Abahani | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 18 | 22 | −4 | 17 | |
| 6 | Fortis FC | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 20 | −5 | 16 | |
| 7 | Sheikh Russel KC | 15 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 18 | −3 | 15 | |
| 8 | Sheikh Jamal DC | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 19 | −6 | 15 | |
| 9 | Rahmatganj MFS | 15 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 23 | −9 | 11 | |
| 10 | Brothers Union | 14 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 53 | −36 | 6 | Relegation to Championship League |
Updated to match(es) played on 10 May 2024. Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.
Maldives edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maziya (C, Q) | 14 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 56 | 4 | +52 | 40 | Qualification for 2024–25 AFC Challenge League play-offs |
| 2 | Eagles | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 57 | 17 | +40 | 35 | |
| 3 | Super United | 14 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 35 | 21 | +14 | 30 | |
| 4 | TC Sports | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 21 | 24 | −3 | 22 | |
| 5 | Buru | 14 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 18 | 26 | −8 | 18 | |
| 6 | United Victory | 14 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 49 | −34 | 12 | |
| 7 | Green Streets (W) | 14 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 43 | −35 | 5 | Withdrew after round 10 |
| 8 | Valencia (W) | 14 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 30 | −26 | 2 | Withdrew after round 9 |
Source: Dhivehi Premier League 2023
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored.
(C) Champions; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (W) ?
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored.
(C) Champions; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (W) ?
Teams and locations edit
Two teams that finish the highest in the 2023–24 Indian Super League and have not qualified for 2024–25 AFC Champions League 2 or 2024–25 AFC Challenge League will represent India.[13]
Football Sri Lanka named Blue Star to represent Sri Lanka as the club were the champions of the sole Sri Lanka Super League held in 2021.[14]
The following teams will participate in the tournament:[15]
Location of the 2024 SAFF Club Championship clubs
| Team | Qualification method |
|---|---|
| Mumbai City |
2023–24 Indian Super League runners-up |
| Goa |
2023–24 Indian Super League third place |
| Maziya
|
2023 Dhivehi Premier League champions |
|
|
2024 Martyr Memorial A-Division League champions |
| Bashundhara Kings
|
2023–24 Bangladesh Premier League champions |
| Paro
|
2023 Bhutan Premier League champions |
| |
PFF Qualifiers winner |
| Blue Star |
2021 Sri Lanka Super League champions |
Matches edit
The matches will be played in home and away knockout format.[16]
Brackets edit
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | |||||||||||||||
Quarter-finals edit
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Semi-finals edit
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Final edit
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "SAFF announces start of club championship from next year". www.dawn.com. 6 May 2023. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "First-ever SAFF Club C'ship likely next year". www.newagebd.net. 6 May 2023. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "SAFF Club C'ship from next year". www.thedailystar.net. 6 May 2023. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "সাফ ক্লাব চ্যাম্পিয়নশিপ হতে পারে আগামী বছর থেকে". www.prothomalo.com (in Bengali). 6 May 2023. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "SAFF mulls home and away system for its inaugural club championship". www.news9live.com. 17 May 2023. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- ^ "SAFF announces start of club championship from next year". www.dawn.com. 7 May 2023. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- ^ "SAFF Club Championship to comprise two teams from India". Khel Now. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Two spots for India in the inaugural SAFF Club Championship". thebridge.in. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "The deserving clubs that have consistently showcased their prowess in both instances are i. Afghan Football Club ii. Muslim Football Club iii. Baloch Noshki Football Club". X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Pakistani Football Club to Play SAFF Championship". propakistani.pk.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Pakistan clubs show no interest in participation at SAFF Club Championship". geosuper.tv. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Bhattacharya, Nilesh (29 January 2024). "Cleiton delivers as East Bengal end title drought in Super way". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ "SAFF Club Championship to comprise two teams from India". Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "Kalutara Blue Star to vie at SAFF Club Tourney - Sports | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ Lakhani, Faizan. "Pakistani club to participate in SAFF's inaugural club championship". Geo Super. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "@MarcusMargulhao: SAFF Club Championship will have eight teams, including two from India, the highest-ranked member association". X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.