The Sri Lanka national football team is set to play 14 international matches over the next 10 months starting in March 2025, marking the highest number of international games played in a single year in the country’s football history.
The schedule includes six matches in the third round of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, two FIFA friendly games, and six matches in the South Asian Football Championship (SAFF). Should Sri Lanka progress to the semi-finals and final of the SAFF Championship, the total number of matches will rise to 16, according to Jaswar Umar, President of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL).
The AFC Asian Cup qualifiers will commence on March 25 with a match against Thailand, followed by encounters against Turkmenistan and Chinese Taipei. This marks the first time Sri Lanka has reached the third round of the Asian Cup qualifiers, drawing significant attention from fans and analysts alike. Ahead of the qualifiers, Sri Lanka will play two FIFA friendlies in Laos on March 20 and 22 to prepare for the challenges ahead.
The SAFF Championship, organised by the South Asian Football Federation, will take place in June and July under a new format. Sri Lanka will host three matches and play three additional games against other South Asian teams. The new structure aims to promote football across the region.
Last year, Sri Lanka participated in 10 international matches and climbed from 205th to 200th in the FIFA world rankings. Based on their improved performances, FFSL President Umar expressed optimism about the team’s future, predicting they could rise to 188th in the world rankings by the end of the year.
“In just eight months, the national football team has shown remarkable progress,” Umar said. “Before the international matches start in March, we have organized a night football tournament under floodlights, dividing top players into four teams. This will help identify more talented players to strengthen the squad. This year, we aim to make it the year of football in Sri Lanka,” he added.
(Sajeewa Jayakody – Daily News)
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