New Delhi, August 2: The defending champions, India, have been placed in Group B alongside Pakistan and Maldives for the SAFF Championship 2026. The draw for the 15th edition of this regional tournament took place on Saturday in Thimphu, Bhutan.
The tournament is scheduled to be held from November 4 to 17 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where the “Blue Tigers” (Indian team) will aim to win the SAFF Championship title for a record 10th time.
India will kick off its campaign against Pakistan on November 5, followed by a match against Maldives on November 11. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, set to be played on November 14, with the final scheduled for November 17.
Group A consists of host Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. If FIFA lifts the suspension on the All Nepal Football Association before September 1, Nepal will also join this group. If the suspension remains, the tournament will proceed with six teams.
India enters this competition with an impressive record against both of its group-stage rivals. The “Blue Tigers” have won 16 of their 25 matches against Pakistan, with seven draws and only two losses. Their last encounter was during the 2023 SAFF Championship, where India secured a remarkable 4-0 victory.
Against Maldives, India has won 13 out of 18 matches, with two draws and three losses. Their most recent match was an international friendly in Shillong in March 2025, where India triumphed with a 3-0 win.
India is the most successful country in the history of the SAFF Championship, having claimed the title nine times (in 1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2021, and 2023). The “Blue Tigers” won their last title by defeating Kuwait in the final held in Bengaluru.
SAFF Championship 2026 Draw:
Group A: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal (dependent on FIFA lifting suspension)
Group B: India, Pakistan, Maldives.
India’s Matches:
November 5: Pakistan vs. India.
November 11: India vs. Maldives.
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