The Women’s SAFF Championship is South Asia’s premier international women’s football tournament, organised by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).
Since its inception in 2010, the tournament has grown into a fiercely contested battleground for regional football supremacy, with India and Bangladesh emerging as the only two nations to have lifted the trophy.
Complete List of Women’s SAFF Championship Winners (All Editions)
Here is a quick overview of every edition of the Women’s SAFF Championship, from the inaugural 2010 tournament to the most recent 2024 edition, with the host city, winner, and runners-up at a glance.
| Edition | Host City | Winner | Runner-Up | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 (1st) | Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh | India | Nepal | 1–0 |
| 2012 (2nd) | Colombo, Sri Lanka | India | Nepal | 3–1 |
| 2014 (3rd) | Islamabad, Pakistan | India | Nepal | 1–0 |
| 2016 (4th) | Siliguri, India | India | Bangladesh | — |
| 2019 (5th) | Biratnagar, Nepal | India | Nepal | — |
| 2022 (6th) | Kathmandu, Nepal | Bangladesh | Nepal | 3–1 |
| 2024 (7th) | Kathmandu, Nepal | Bangladesh | Nepal | 2–1 |
Edition-by-Edition Breakdown: Women’s SAFF Championship Winners
Every edition of the Women’s SAFF Championship has brought its own drama, upsets, and standout moments. Here is a detailed look at each tournament and what made it memorable.
1 – 2010 Women’s SAFF Championship | Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
The inaugural Women’s SAFF Championship marked the beginning of India’s dominant era in South Asian women’s football. Eight nations competed in this historic first edition.
- Winner: India
- Runner-Up: Nepal
- Final Score: 1–0
- Host: Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
- Notable Moment: Sasmita Mallik netted the only goal to hand India the inaugural title
2 – 2012 Women’s SAFF Championship | Colombo, Sri Lanka
India returned to defend their title on Sri Lankan soil and did so convincingly, putting on a dominant attacking display throughout the tournament.
- Winner: India
- Runner-Up: Nepal
- Final Score: 3–1
- Host: Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Notable Moment: India’s most commanding final victory in the tournament’s history
3 – 2014 Women’s SAFF Championship | Islamabad, Pakistan
India claimed their third consecutive title in Pakistan, once again edging out Nepal in a closely fought final and cementing their status as the undisputed force in South Asian women’s football.
- Winner: India
- Runner-Up: Nepal
- Final Score: 1–0
- Host: Islamabad, Pakistan
- Notable Moment: India’s third straight title — a testament to the Blue Tigresses’ consistency
4 – 2016 Women’s SAFF Championship | Siliguri, India
India played on home soil and delivered a dominant campaign, defeating Bangladesh in the final to claim their fourth title. Sabitra Bhandari of Nepal was the tournament’s top scorer with 12 goals, despite her side not making the final.
- Winner: India
- Runner-Up: Bangladesh
- Host: Siliguri, India
- Top Scorer: Sabitra Bhandari — 12 goals (Nepal)
- Best Player: Indumathi Kathiresan (India)
- Notable Moment: India’s only final where Nepal was NOT the runner-up
5 – 2019 Women’s SAFF Championship | Biratnagar, Nepal
India completed a five-title streak in Nepal’s own backyard, a remarkable achievement that underlined their total dominance of women’s football in the SAFF region across the entire decade.
- Winner: India
- Runner-Up: Nepal
- Host: Biratnagar, Nepal
- Best Player: Grace Dangmei (India)
- Notable Moment: India’s fifth and final title — completing a perfect decade of dominance
6 – 2022 Women’s SAFF Championship | Kathmandu, Nepal
The 2022 edition ended India’s stranglehold on the trophy as Bangladesh made history, stunning the hosts Nepal in the final to become only the second-ever winners of the Women’s SAFF Championship.
- Winner: Bangladesh
- Runner-Up: Nepal
- Final Score: 3–1
- Host: Kathmandu, Nepal
- Notable Moment: Krishna Rani Sarkar scored a brace; India were knocked out in the semi-finals by Nepal 1–0
7 – 2024 Women’s SAFF Championship | Kathmandu, Nepal
Bangladesh proved their 2022 triumph was no fluke, defending the title with a hard-fought win against Nepal in a thrilling final at Dasharath Stadium to become back-to-back champions.
- Winner: Bangladesh
- Runner-Up: Nepal
- Final Score: 2–1
- Host: Kathmandu, Nepal
- Top Scorer: Deki Lhazom — 8 goals
- Best Player: Ritu Porna Chakma (Bangladesh)
- Notable Moment: Nepal’s sixth final loss; Bangladesh confirmed as South Asia’s new women’s football powerhouse
Women’s SAFF Championship: Title Count by Nation
| Nation | Titles Won | Editions |
|---|---|---|
| India | 5 | 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2019 |
| Bangladesh | 2 | 2022, 2024 |
| Nepal | 0 | — (6x Runner-Up) |
Key Facts About the Women’s SAFF Championship
- Total Editions Played: 7 (2010–2024)
- Only 2 nations have ever won the title — India and Bangladesh
- India holds the record for most titles (5) and consecutive wins (5)
- Nepal is the most frequent runner-up, appearing in 6 of 7 finals
- Nepal has hosted the tournament three times (2019, 2022, 2024)
- The tournament started with 8 teams and now features 7 member nations
Final Words
The Women’s SAFF Championship has come a long way since its humble beginnings in Cox’s Bazar in 2010.
What started as India’s personal trophy cabinet has evolved into a genuinely competitive regional battle, with Bangladesh emerging as a formidable new force.
Nepal, despite six runner-up finishes, continues to push boundaries and remains a title contender. As South Asian women’s football grows stronger with every edition, the best chapters of this tournament are clearly still to be written.
