Walton Fan, a leading Bangladeshi fan brand, has become the powered-by sponsor of the 15th SAFF Football Championship 2026, scheduled to begin in Dhaka on Thursday.
The six-nation tournament will kick off at the historic National Stadium in the capital on November 5 and conclude with the final on November 17.
The championship is returning to Bangladesh after eight years, raising expectations among local football fans as the national team prepares to compete on home soil.
Host Bangladesh will compete in Group A alongside Sri Lanka and Bhutan, while Group B features India, Maldives and Pakistan.
The tournament will begin with the India-Pakistan match at 3:30pm on Thursday. Bangladesh will take on Bhutan at 8pm on the same day, followed by their final group-stage match against Sri Lanka on November 11.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, scheduled for November 14.
Walton has been supporting the development of football in Bangladesh for years, extending its sponsorship to both men's and women's national teams.
The company has previously supported several international football events, including the 2025 Women's Football Tri-Nation Tournament, Bangladesh's Asian Cup qualifying matches against Singapore and India, and the Bangladesh-Hong Kong friendly in Hong Kong.
Walton also supported the women's national team through sports equipment and receptions following their achievements, including the 2016 SAFF Women's Championship.
Zohab Ahmed, chief marketing officer of Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC, said football was deeply connected to the emotions and passion of people in Bangladesh.
“We have been supporting the country's football community for a long time out of our love for the game. We are delighted to be associated with this prestigious tournament on home soil as the powered-by sponsor of Walton Fan,” he said.
He expressed hope that the championship would inspire the younger generation to become more involved in football and that the Bangladesh team would achieve success, bringing joy to the nation.
Walton Fan's sponsorship of the SAFF Championship is expected to contribute to the growth of the country's sports economy and football infrastructure.
