Sri Lanka will aim to take a major step towards ending their 31-year wait for the South Asian football title when they face Bhutan in their opening match of the 2026 SAFF Championship at the National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh, today at 7:30pm, Sri Lanka time. The match will be a crucial test for Sri [...]
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Sri Lanka, placed 184 in the FIFA world rankings, will start as favourites against Bhutan, who are ranked 192, having beaten them 4-1 in their previous meeting five months ago. That victory in Bangkok, Thailand, showed Sri Lanka’s attacking strength, with Wade Dekker, Anthony Suresh, Waseem Razeek and Kevin Anthony scoring the goals. Sri Lanka led 1-0 at halftime before taking full control of the match in the second half.
At the last outing in June, Sri Lanka beat Bhutan by 4-1 in Thailand in a FIFA International Friendly game
The two countries have met nine times since 2006, with Sri Lanka winning seven matches and Bhutan claiming two victories. However, Al Mutairi knows that past results will mean little unless his players produce another strong performance today. Al Mutairi said Sri Lanka’s recent international matches against Seychelles and Mauritius had helped his players improve their teamwork and identify weaknesses ahead of the championship.
“We always like to concentrate match by match and move forward step by step without rushing,” Al Mutairi told before the tournament.
He said the coaching staff had studied the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents and prepared plans for the championship. The coach has also made it clear that Sri Lanka’s long term ambition goes beyond winning the regional title.
“My target is to qualify for the first time in history for the Asia Cup 2032,” Al Mutairi told reporters in Dhaka on Wednesday.
His comments show that the championship is part of a wider programme to develop Sri Lankan football, although success in Dhaka would provide an important boost to that ambition. Al Mutairi also named hosts Bangladesh among the favourites, pointing to their home advantage and the quality of their players.
Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) President Jaswar Umar has expressed strong confidence in the national team’s ability to challenge for the title.
“We will focus match by match and want to make sure that we first win our group games to secure a place in the semis,” Umar told.
He said the next objective would be to reach the November 17 final and win the championship. Umar believes the international exposure given to Sri Lankan players over recent years has helped build a stronger and more competitive national team. The national team’s improved FIFA Rankings and recent victories have raised expectations among supporters, who are hoping to see Sri Lanka return to the top of South Asian football.
Experienced goalkeeper and captain Sujan Perera will play an important role in Sri Lanka’s campaign. Perera, who plays club football for Fortis FC in Bangladesh, believes his experience of playing in the country could help him during the championship.
Speaking at a pre-tournament press conference in Dhaka, Perera said his knowledge of Bangladesh’s players and playing conditions would be an advantage. His experience will be particularly important when Sri Lanka face hosts Bangladesh in their second group match on November 11. Perera will remain the regular captain, while the team will also use an outfield player to communicate with match officials. The arrangement is designed to improve communication and decision making during matches.
Sri Lanka’s attacking strength could be the deciding factor against Bhutan. Waseem Razeek and Wade Dekker, who both scored in the previous meeting, will be among the key players expected to trouble Bhutan’s defence. The squad also includes forwards Sam Durrant, Oliver Kelaart, Dillon de Silva, Rahul Suresh and Remiyan Muthucumaru. Midfielders Garrett Kelly, Leon Perera and Adhavan Rajamohan provide further options as Sri Lanka look to control possession and create scoring opportunities.
However, Sri Lanka must avoid becoming too aggressive in attack and leaving gaps in defence. Bhutan will be aware of Sri Lanka’s attacking threat and could adopt a more defensive approach while looking for opportunities to counterattack. An early goal would help Sri Lanka settle into the match, but patience and discipline will be equally important.
The 2026 SAFF Championship is the 15th edition of the tournament, widely regarded as South Asia’s biggest international football competition. Sri Lanka won their only regional title in 1995, defeating India in the final in Colombo under the captaincy of Sampath Perera. More than three decades later, the country is hoping that its improving national team can challenge for the trophy again.
Sri Lanka’s recent performances have shown encouraging progress, but tournament football will test their ability to maintain consistency under pressure. A victory over Bhutan would give Sri Lanka a valuable opening result and strengthen their chances of progressing from Group ‘A’. Their second match against Bangladesh on November 11 could then decide their position in the group and their route to the semi-finals. For Al Mutairi and his players, the immediate challenge is to turn confidence into results.
Print Edition – The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka
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