Dhaka is ready for the fixture that stops South Asian football in its tracks. Defending champions India open their SAFF Championship 2026 campaign against Pakistan at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday, November 5, with kickoff at 3 pm IST. It is the first Group B match for both teams, and for India, it is the first step towards a record extending 10th regional title.
The Blue Tigers arrive as champions, but not quite as the team most fans remember from the last edition. Head coach Naushad Moosa has brought a young, developmental squad to Bangladesh, while senior national team head coach Khalid Jamil is leading a separate squad for friendly matches against New Zealand on November 12 and 15 in Auckland and Christchurch. That split is the story behind this campaign. India are not just defending a trophy here. They are testing the depth of Indian football in front of a noisy, partisan crowd.
Pakistan, meanwhile, arrive with a point to prove. India have dominated this rivalry for years, and Moosa made it clear at the pre tournament press conference in Dhaka on Wednesday that he expects a very different opponent this time.
A rivalry India have owned, but cannot take lightly
The numbers tell one side of the story. India and Pakistan have met 29 times in senior internationals. India have won 16 of those matches, Pakistan have won four, and nine have ended in draws. The most recent meeting was also the most one sided in recent memory. India thrashed Pakistan 4-0 at the SAFF Championship 2023 in Bengaluru, with Sunil Chhetri scoring a hat trick and Udanta Singh Kumam adding the fourth goal.
That result, however, is exactly why Moosa sounded a note of caution in Dhaka. “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,” he said. “We would certainly like to win the match. I do not 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.”
Why this India squad looks different
Moosa has been open about the job he has been given. He is in Dhaka with a young team, and his brief is as much about development as it is about winning. With the senior squad away in New Zealand, several players who might otherwise have waited for their chance now have a major tournament to make their case.
“We are defending the title, and we are playing away from home, here in Bangladesh,” Moosa said. “As I said, I have come here with a young team because we also have friendly matches against New Zealand, with one squad travelling there to play two games. 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.”
What is at stake in Group B
India are drawn in Group B alongside Pakistan and the Maldives. After Thursday’s opener, India face the Maldives in their second and final group fixture on November 11, also at 3 pm IST. The top two teams from each group qualify for the semi finals, which will be played on November 14. The final is scheduled for November 17.
How to watch India vs Pakistan
The match kicks off at 3 pm IST on Thursday, November 5, at the National Stadium in Dhaka. The match will be streamed live on the Veto app, as per reports. With the game falling in the middle of the afternoon in India, expect a big online audience, and expect the highlights to travel fast, whichever way the result goes.
Thursday, though, is about the here and now. A young India team, a title to defend, and Pakistan standing in the way at the very first hurdle. That is a combination South Asian football rarely wastes.
FAQs
When is India vs Pakistan in the SAFF Championship 2026?
India vs Pakistan kicks off at 3 pm IST on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at the National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Which group are India in?
India are in Group B with Pakistan and the Maldives. India play the Maldives on November 11, also at 3 pm IST.
Who is coaching India at SAFF 2026?
Naushad Moosa is leading India in Dhaka with a young squad, while senior head coach Khalid Jamil is with a separate squad for friendlies against New Zealand.
What is India’s record against Pakistan?
In 29 senior internationals, India have won 16, Pakistan have won four, and nine matches have ended in draws. India won the last meeting 4-0 at SAFF 2023 in Bengaluru.
When are the SAFF 2026 semi finals and final?
The semi finals are on November 14 and the final is scheduled for November 17.
India have the history, the ranking and the trophy to defend. Pakistan have the hunger to rewrite that history. On Thursday afternoon in Dhaka, we find out which one wins out.
