Sri Lanka has unveiled its 22-man squad for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round, with experienced goalkeeper Sujan Perera leading the team as captain. However, the squad selection has sparked discussions, as 13 out of the 22 players are origin players, leaving fewer opportunities for Sri Lankan-born footballers striving to build their careers locally.

Adding to the concerns, Dillon De Silva will miss the qualifiers due to injury, further impacting the squad’s depth.

Sri Lanka National Team Squad for AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers

Goalkeepers:

• Sujan Perera (C)
• Kaveesh Lakpriya
• Mohamed Mursith

Players:

• Chalana Chameera
• Mohamed Aman
• Mohamed Hasmeer
• RIfkhan Mohamed
• Mohamed Thilham
• Anujan Rajendram
• Oliver Kelaart
• Barath Suresh
• Adhavan Rajamohan
• Leon Perera
• Jack Hingert
• Jason Thayaparan
• Claudio Kammerknecht
• Wade Dekker
• Sam Durrant
• William Thomason
• Waseem Razeek
• Geremi Perera
• Harsha Fernando
• Garrett Kelly

Head Coach: Abdullah Almutairi

Challenges for Sri Lankan-Born Players

In previous international matches, Sri Lanka has often started with 10 or even 9 origin players, limiting exposure for locally developed talent. The lack of high-quality domestic competitions, such as the Super League and Champions League, has made it difficult to scout and nurture homegrown footballers.

While relying on origin players offers an immediate competitive edge, the long-term consequences could hinder the growth of Sri Lankan football. Without structured domestic tournaments, young local players struggle to gain top-level experience, making it challenging to replace experienced origin players in the future.

Balancing Immediate Success and Future Development

With the qualifiers being a crucial test for Sri Lanka, the team management has prioritized experience and international exposure over an experimental squad featuring more local players. While this decision may help in the short term, Sri Lanka Football must focus on reviving domestic leagues to create a sustainable pathway for local talent.

As Sri Lanka prepares for the qualifiers, the debate continues: Should the national team prioritize short-term results or long-term football development?

Stay tuned for more updates on Sri Lanka’s journey in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers.

Colombo: Sri Lanka has officially been granted the hosting rights for the 2025 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship, set to take place in June 2025. The decision marks a historic moment for Sri Lankan football, as the nation last hosted the tournament in 2008 alongside the Maldives.

The SAFF Championship is widely regarded as the “World Cup of South Asia,” bringing together the best footballing nations from the region. The 2025 edition will feature seven teams:

• India (Defending champions and most successful team)
• Pakistan
• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• Maldives
• Nepal
• Sri Lanka (Host nation)

With the backing of home supporters, Sri Lanka will look to capitalize on this opportunity and aim for a deep run in the competition.

SAFF Championship: A Look at Past Editions and Winners

The SAFF Championship, first held in 1993, has seen 14 editions so far. India has been the most dominant team in the tournament’s history, winning a record 9 titles. The Maldives and Bangladesh have each won the tournament twice, while Sri Lanka claimed their only title in 1995, when they hosted the event in Colombo.

Here is a look at the past winners:

• India – 9 titles (1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2021, 2023)
• Maldives – 2 titles (2008, 2018)
• Bangladesh – 2 titles (2003, 2023)
• Sri Lanka – 1 title (1995)

Sri Lanka’s return as the host nation in 2025 gives them a golden opportunity to reclaim the championship after 30 years.

If executed well, the 2025 SAFF Championship could mark the beginning of a new era for Sri Lankan football, helping the nation rise again in South Asian football.

Can Sri Lanka make the most of this historic opportunity? The countdown to SAFF 2025 begins!

FIFA has officially ruled out three nations from participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to different reasons, with Russia, Congo, and Pakistan all facing suspensions from international football.

Russia’s Continued Ban

The Russian Football Union (RFU) remains banned from both FIFA and UEFA competitions, a sanction that has been in place since the country’s military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Despite ongoing appeals, FIFA and UEFA reaffirmed their stance last year, ensuring Russia’s exclusion from all global and European competitions, including the upcoming World Cup. Russian club teams are also barred from competing in UEFA tournaments.

Congo’s Suspension

The Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT) has been suspended by FIFA due to what has been described as “undue third-party interference” in its operations. FIFA, in coordination with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), conducted investigations in Brazzaville before making the decision. The suspension will only be lifted if several conditions are met, including restoring full control of FECOFOOT’s headquarters to the federation, stopping external interference in financial matters, and allowing independent governance.

Pakistan Also Barred

Pakistan’s national football team will also miss the World Cup after FIFA suspended the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) due to governance issues. The primary reason behind the suspension is the federation’s failure to implement a revised constitution that would ensure transparent and democratic elections. FIFA has made it clear that Pakistan can only be reinstated once the PFF Congress approves the proposed constitutional amendments.

Impact on Qualification

With these suspensions, Congo, which was struggling in Group E of the CAF qualification section, and Pakistan, which had already finished last in Group G of the AFC qualifiers, are now officially ruled out of the tournament.

2026 World Cup Overview

The next FIFA World Cup is set to take place in North America, with the United States hosting the majority of the matches across 11 cities, while Mexico and Canada will each have multiple venues. Defending champions Argentina, who triumphed in Qatar 2022 after a thrilling final against France, will aim to retain their title.

For more updates on global football and Sri Lankan sports, stay tuned to Sri Lankan Sports TV.