India Face Pakistan in SAFF Championship Opener with Second-String Squad

India start their SAFF Championship 2026 defence against Pakistan in the tournament opener at Dhaka's National Stadium on Thursday. The match begins at 3:00 PM IST on November 5, 2026.

Squad Status

The Blue Tigers field a depleted, second-string side for the first game because the senior team is touring New Zealand for friendlies. Indian Super League clubs are also reluctant to release players outside the FIFA window. Coach Naushad Moosa has only 18 players available for the opener. The remaining 10 players will join the team once the international window opens on November 9.

Teams and History

India are nine-time champions chasing a record-extending 10th title. Pakistan arrive with improved form under former Peruvian international Nolberto Solano and feature Danish-born captain Abdullah Iqbal. India have dominated past meetings, winning seven of their last ten encounters, including a 4-0 win in the 2023 edition in Bengaluru where Sunil Chhetri scored a hat-trick. A weakened squad means Thursday's match could be much closer than past results.

Broadcast Details

Indian viewers can live stream the match on the VETO OTT platform via its website and app. There is no television broadcast for the tournament in India. In Bangladesh, T-Sports has television rights and Bongo holds digital streaming rights. In Pakistan, Myco has both broadcast and OTT rights.

Context

Regional football tournaments in South Asia often face scheduling challenges due to clashes with club leagues and official international windows. Squad depth becomes a crucial factor when top-tier players are unavailable due to club commitments or overlapping national team tours.