The Indian men’s football team has been drawn into Group B along with Maldives and Pakistan for the SAFF 2026. The draw took place on Saturday in Thimphu, Bhutan.
The 15th South Asian Football Federation tournament will be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from November 4 to 17, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced.
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Reigning champions India are aiming to win a record 10th SAFF title. Their campaign begins against Maldives on November 5, followed by a match against Pakistan on November 11.
Hosts Bangladesh are in Group A, along with Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Nepal will join Group A if FIFA’s suspension of the All Nepal Football Association is lifted by September 1. Otherwise, the tournament will continue with six teams.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, while the winners of Group A will face the second-placed team in Group B and vice versa. The semi-finals are scheduled for November 14, the finals on November 17.
India’s record against its group opponents is strong. The Blue Tigers have won 16 of their 25 matches against Pakistan, drawn seven and lost twice. Their last meeting was a 4-0 victory at the 2023 SAFF Championship.
Against Maldives, India won 13 matches, drew two and lost three out of 18 matches. Their last meeting was a friendly in March 2025, which the Maldives won 3-0 in Shillong.
India have previously won the SAFF Championship nine times: 1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2021 and 2023 when they defeated visiting team Kuwait in the final held in Bengaluru.
SAFF 2026 Championship Draw Results:
Group A: Bangladesh (hosts), Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal (subject to FIFA suspension being lifted).
Group B: India, Maldives, Pakistan.
India matches:
November 5: Pakistan vs India
November 11: India – Maldives
November 14: Semi-finals
November 17: Final
Venue: Dhaka, Bangladesh.