The SAFF Championship 2026 will witness the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system for the first time when defending champions India take on Bhutan in the semifinal in Dhaka on Saturday.

The technology will also be used in the second semifinal and the November 17 final at the National Stadium.

However, instead of a conventional on-site setup, the tournament will implement remote VAR, with live match footage transmitted from Dhaka to a centralised operations hub in Thailand. Certified Video Match Officials (VMOs) will review contentious incidents and communicate their recommendations directly to the on-field referees in accordance with the International Football Association Board (IFAB) VAR protocol.

SAFF General Secretary Purushottam Kattel confirmed the development while speaking to PTI, explaining that the move was aimed at improving the tournament’s standards and profile.

SAFF has partnered with the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) to facilitate the system. Spanish-based FIFA-certified technology provider Quality will operate the VAR infrastructure, with its central operations based in Thailand. A fully equipped Referee Review Area and Technical Operations Team Area Monitor have been installed at the Dhaka venue, with technical experts present to oversee operations.

Kattel revealed that the remote arrangement would cost approximately USD 800-900 per match, making it more economical than transporting the entire equipment setup from Thailand. He also expressed confidence about connectivity, provided the venue has a strong internet connection. The selected referees and assistant referees for the knockout matches have undergone VAR training and certification.

India has previously experienced VAR at the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, but the technology is yet to be introduced in the country’s domestic leagues.

On the field, India will enter the semifinal as favourites after winning both their Group B matches against Pakistan and Maldives. Bhutan qualified from Group A as runners-up despite collecting just one point. Hosts Bangladesh will face Pakistan in the other semifinal.