ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Pakistan will open their campaign in the SAFF Championship 2026 against India on November 5.
The 2026 SAFF Championship is the upcoming 15th edition of South Asia’s premier men’s international football tournament.
The event will take place from November 5 to November 17, 2026, at the National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
SAFF Championship structure
A total of 6 teams are participating in the tournament. These teams have been divided into two distinct groups:
Group A comprises Bangladesh (hosts), Sri Lanka, and Bhutan while India (defending champions), Maldives and Pakistan are placed in Group B. Nepal was excluded from the tournament group draws due to an ongoing FIFA suspension.
Group stage match schedule
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on November 14, followed by the final on November 17.
Date Match Group Time (PKT) Source
Nov 5, 2026 Pakistan vs India Group B 02:30 PM
Nov 5, 2026 Bhutan vs Bangladesh Group A 07:00 PM
Nov 8, 2026 Maldives vs PakistanGroup B 02:30 PM
Nov 8, 2026 Sri Lanka vs Bhutan Group A 07:00 PM
Nov 11, 2026 India vs Maldives Group B 02:30 PM
Nov 11, 2026 Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Group A 07:00 PM
Unlike India and Bangladesh, where domestic leagues help players maintain their fitness, Pakistan currently has no active domestic league.
There are media reports that some key Pakistan players based abroad, may miss the event because of commitments to their clubs.
Pakistan have a modest record in the SAFF Championship, with their best finish being third place in the 1997 edition in Nepal.
India has so far won nine titles, followed by the Maldives with two. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have won one title each.
