Nepal will be playing India and Sri Lanka in the group stage of the third edition of the SAFF U-19 Men’s Championship, according to the draw unveiled by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) in Kathmandu on Tuesday. The three countries made up Group B.

Likewise, the Maldives, Bhutan and Bangladesh will be competing for the two semi-final spots from Group A.

India is hosting the third edition of the tournament from May 9 to 18 at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh. Nepal hosted the previous two editions in 2015 and 2023.

Six SAARC countries, except for Pakistan and Afghanistan, are participating in the event. While Afghanistan has stopped playing in South Asian regional events, Pakistan did not participate this time.

Afghanistan had played the event in 2015, while they did not participate in 2023. Pakistan, on the other hand, was a part of the 2023 edition where they lost 3-0 to India in the final.

“Pakistan did not fill the participation form for the tournament,” Ayush Khadka, head of Media and Communication at the SAFF Secretariat, told the Post.

It is the first time that Nepal and India’s U-19 side have been drawn in the same group. Nepal and India, the winners of the 2015 and 2023 editions, respectively, are playing the final game of the group on May 13.

India will open the tournament on May 9 against Sri Lanka while Nepal will face Sri Lanka on May 11.

The semi-finals have been scheduled for May 16 with the final to be played on May 18.