Tecno SAFF Championship opens in grand style, blending football, music and technology

The opening ceremony of the 'Tecno SAFF Championship Bangladesh 2026' was held at the National Stadium in Dhaka, in a grand programme combining technology, football and music.

Tecno, the tournament's title sponsor and a global AI-driven technology brand, brought an attractive projection and laser show, music, robotics and various South Asian culture-based performances to the opening ceremony.

Such a combination of innovative technology and creativity has created a different and memorable experience for football lovers, the brand said.

Another notable part of the ceremony was the unveiling of the trophy of the 'Tecno SAFF Championship Bangladesh 2026'. Present at the time were State Minister for Youth and Sports Mohammad Aminul Haque, Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Tabith Awal, South Asian Football Federation Senior Vice President Jaswar Umaru Lebbe, General Secretary Purushottam Kattel and iSmartU Technology BD Ltd Chief Executive Officer Rezwanul Haque.

After the trophy unveiling, the guests went onto the field, met the players and match officials and exchanged greetings.

Speaking about the event on behalf of Tecno Bangladesh, iSmartU Technology BD Ltd Chief Executive Officer Rezwanul Haque said, 'Football is a game that brings people together and creates memorable moments. Through the Tecno SAFF Championship Bangladesh 2026, we want to make those moments even more attractive for football lovers by combining technology and creativity.'

He added that, with that idea in mind, football, music and South Asian culture were brought together at the opening ceremony, so that viewers could enjoy a different and memorable experience.

Presenting Tecno's broader plan behind this partnership, the company's General Manager Jack Guo said, 'Football is a game that highlights people's emotions, determination and the mindset of moving forward together. These human qualities are also deeply connected with Tecno's brand DNA.'

He said South Asia is one of the youngest and most vibrant regions in the world. Through this partnership with the SAFF Championship, Tecno wants to bring modern technology closer to the people here, while encouraging young people to dream big, embrace new innovations and move forward to achieve their goals.

This idea of technology and creativity was evident from the very start of the opening ceremony. The programme began with a grand projection and laser show across the stadium. Laser mapping across the field then presented the championship's identity and scenes from the participating countries.

Alongside the laser show, another attraction of the ceremony was a special performance by Sanjoy, a Bangladeshi-origin American DJ and music producer. He took the stage as Tecno's special guest artist. After performing 'Sir Sir' at the FIFA World Cup, Sanjoy performed before the country's audience this time with the same international-stage energy.

Wearing a jacket specially made for Tecno, he presented a blend of international music and popular South Asian tunes in a performance lasting about 20 minutes. Paying special tribute to the participating countries, he created a festive atmosphere throughout the performance.

Alongside the opening ceremony, Tecno is offering football lovers various attractive experiences throughout the tournament. Tecno users in Bangladesh will be able to engage with the tournament more interactively through 'Ella AI'. With the help of this AI assistant, users will get AI-based predictions on match scores, important highlights of the tournament and various interactive football-related content. As a result, users will easily be able to follow match updates and enjoy different moments of the tournament.

Not only on smartphones, Tecno is also offering football lovers various interactive experience zones, digital engagement activities and mobile technology exhibitions in the stadium area. Through these, spectators will be able to learn about Tecno's various technologies and features and experience them directly. Football lovers will also get the chance to win a Tecno Camon smartphone by taking part in various prediction activities and digital campaigns.

Tecno's journey with football is not new. Earlier, through a partnership with Manchester City Football Club from 2016 to 2022, its ongoing association with the CAF Africa Cup of Nations and sponsorships of the AFC's top club competitions, Tecno has remained connected with international football.

In this continuation, as title sponsor, Tecno is now presenting its 'Stop at Nothing' brand spirit to South Asian football lovers. The 'Tecno SAFF Championship Bangladesh 2026' will run at the National Stadium in Dhaka from 5 to 17 November 2026. Six national football teams are taking part in the tournament.