The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) team proudly emerged as runners-up in the inaugural Diplomatic Futsal Tournament, held on 29 May and 01 June 2025 in Kathmandu.
The tournament was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal in Kathmandu with participation of 13 teams from Embassies of Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, SAARC, UAE, USA as well as from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, with a view to fostering friendship and mutual understanding through sports, and to bring to diplomatic missions and international organizations in a spirited celebration of sportsmanship and unity.
The SAARC team delivered an inspiring and determined performance throughout the competition, showcasing exceptional teamwork, resilience, and sporting spirit. Advancing through intense matches, the team demonstrated the values of unity and regional cooperation, that lie at the heart of SAARC’s mission and its vision of people-to-people contact.
This strong finish is a testament to the dedication and camaraderie of the players and support staff who represented the organization with pride and integrity on and off the field. The final match was played between SAARC and U.S. Embassy futsal teams, which ended in a thrilling 4-4 tie and went down to a penalty shootout. Mr. Abdulla Najeeb from the SAARC Futsal Team was selected as the Best Player of the Tournament.
SAARC extends its sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal for hosting this meaningful initiative and congratulates those who contributed to success of this tournament. SAARC also extend appreciation to all participating teams for their enthusiasm and sportsmanship. The final and award ceremony was graced by the distinguished presence of H.E. Mr. Amrit Bahadur Rai, Foreign Secretary of Nepal, and H.E. Mr. Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of SAARC, who attended as the Guest of Honor.
The event was also attended by diplomats and officials from the esteemed Embassies in Kathmandu, supporters, futsal fans and families. SAARC Secretariat Kathmandu 01 June 2025
