Defending champions India kick off their SAFF Championship 2026 campaign against Pakistan in Dhaka, with Naushad Moosa aiming for a strong start despite fielding a young squad.
Kolkata, November 5: Matchday has arrived in Dhaka, and India are set to begin their SAFF Championship 2026 title defence with a familiar rivalry. The defending champions take on Pakistan in their opening Group B fixture at the National Stadium on Thursday, November 5, with kick-off scheduled for 3:00 PM.
There is an added dimension to India’s campaign this time, with Naushad Moosa leading a young squad in Bangladesh while the senior national team, under Khalid Jamil, is away in New Zealand for two international friendlies. It presents Moosa with an opportunity to assess his group in a competitive tournament, but the expectations surrounding the Indian shirt remain unchanged.
Pakistan will be India’s first test. Although the FIFA rankings place India at 138th and Pakistan at 197th, the difference on paper will count for little once the two sides take the field. India have won 16 of their 29 senior international meetings, but Moosa is conscious that past results cannot determine Thursday’s outcome.
The last time these sides met in the SAFF Championship was in 2023, when India secured a 4-0 victory in Bengaluru. Sunil Chhetri’s hat-trick and Udanta Singh Kumam’s goal sealed the result. Three years on, however, Moosa expects a different Pakistan outfit and has made it clear that his team cannot afford to approach the game based solely on their previous encounter.
At Wednesday’s pre-tournament press conference in Dhaka, Moosa spoke about the importance of approaching the opener with the right mindset rather than allowing the pressure of the occasion to dictate the performance.
“We are going to face a different Pakistan team compared to the one we faced in the last SAFF Championship, and we are definitely prepared for that. We would certainly like to win the match. I don’t think there is any particular pressure. Rather, it is about having the motivation to give our best and put everything on the pitch. Hopefully, we can come away with a good result,” he said.
For Moosa, defending the championship is not the immediate concern. With a young group at his disposal and an away tournament ahead, he wants the players to concentrate on their performances instead of carrying the weight of the previous title. His emphasis remains on playing positive football and allowing the results to follow.
India’s head coach reiterated that approach while acknowledging the challenge of competing in Bangladesh, where the defending champions will be playing away from home.
“What is important to me is that my players play with a free mind. I am not really worried about defending the title. What I am concerned about is playing good football. When the team plays good football, the results will follow,” Moosa added.
A victory against Pakistan would provide India with a valuable start before their final group-stage assignment against Maldives on November 11. With only two fixtures in Group B, there is little room for an early slip-up. The top two teams will advance to the semi-finals on November 14, while the championship final will take place on November 17. Hosts Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan are competing in Group A.
India arrive in Dhaka as the winners of the 2023 edition, where they defeated Kuwait in the final. The challenge now is to begin another title campaign on the right note. First up is Pakistan, with three points and early momentum at stake. For now the defending champions look to make a strong start to their campaign for a record-extending 10th title.
India’s group-stage schedule:
- November 5 – Pakistan vs India, 3:00 PM
- November 11 – India vs Maldives, 3:00 PM
SAFF Championship 2026 full fixtures:
Group A: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan
Group B: India, Pakistan, Maldives
November 5, Pakistan vs India, 3:00 PM
November 5, Bhutan vs Bangladesh, 7:30 PM
November 8, Maldives vs Pakistan, 3:00 PM,
November 8, Sri Lanka vs Bhutan, 7:30 PM
November 11, India vs Maldives, 3:00 PM
November 11, Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, 7:30 PM
Semi-finals – November 14
Group B Winner vs Group A Runner-up, 2:30 PM
Group A Winner vs Group B Runner-up, 8:00 PM
Final – November 17, 7:30 PM
National Stadium in Dhaka
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