The Sri Lanka men’s football team in the aftermath of their failure to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers in Saudi Arabia will have a surfeit of international fixtures next year to sustain their resurgence in the world game which began in 2025.
This was revealed to The Daily Morning Sports, by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) President Jaswar Umar.
He said no less than 12 international fixtures will be in the offing for Sujan Perera’s team in 2026 with the most prominent being the 15th edition of the biennial international men’s football championship of South Asia to be held in Colombo in June-July. It is expected to include at least seven games for the hosts.
He stated that following the conclusion of the seven-nation SAFF Championship, Sri Lanka will host the second edition of the South Asian Super Cup which was clinched by Maldives in September this year.
According to the FFSL head, the South Asian Super Cup next year will feature at least a further three teams from the region, resulting in at least four more encounters for Sri Lanka in a packed schedule for the next calendar year.
The SAFF Championship which was postponed in April this year will feature defending champions and nine times winner India, Bangladesh (champions 2003), Bhutan, Maldives (champions 2008 and 2018), Nepal, Pakistan and hosts Sri Lanka, who lifted the title in 1995.
The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) reportedly put off the tournament to the centralised location in Sri Lanka after having originally deemed to play it on a home and away basis.
This was due to logistical issues with the venues, preparation periods for the competing nations, and the desire to coincide the tournament with the intended excitement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the US and Mexico.
Coached by Kuwaiti national Abdulla Al Mutairi, Sri Lanka played nine internationals this year recording four victories and as many losses while drawing one, as they bowed out of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers following a 4-0 hammering at home at the hands of Thailand on 18 November.
Asked to analyse the national team’s overall showing during 2025, Umar whose brainchild has been to load the side with origin players much to the chagrin of a spate of football critics here, noted that he was pleased with the effort of the players.
He said the rise in FIFA World Rankings from 207 to 194 spoke volumes for the improved performance of the side in international football, and asked whether the island nation could have made such ‘solid headway’ if they had solely banked on local talent.
Umar said the ongoing Champions League tournament in the domestic circuit revived after a lapse of four years by the federation, would be an ideal platform for home grown players to hone their skills and forward their cases for selection to the national team.
“We cannot pick players who cannot understand even the basic knowledge of football for national duty,” the FFSL President put forth his case.
“If we were to do that we (Sri Lanka) could become a laughing stock for the rest of the football world. I am not prepared to taint my country’s reputation by fielding such players. Anyhow the Champions League that is taking place now is an ideal opportunity for local players to make an impact and if they shine there they could be selected for the national side, but not otherwise.”
Sri Lanka who slipped a position from 193 in FIFA World Rankings following their reverse to Thailand in Colombo, is set to kick off their international football season in the new year, with their last Group D clash against Chinese Taipei away on 31 March 2026 in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.
Be the first to comment