India Edge Past Pakistan in SAFF Championship Opener

The India football team started their SAFF Championship 2026 campaign with a close 3-2 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan. Suhail Ahmad Bhat scored two goals in the 14th and 20th minutes, and Manglenthang Kipgen scored the third goal in the 32nd minute.

Late Goals And Penalties

India did not score any more goals in the second half. Pakistan fought back after the 90th minute with two quick goals from Najeeb Ullah in the 91st minute and Alamgir Ghazi in the 94th minute. Pakistan also missed a chance earlier when Shayak Dost failed to score a penalty in the first half.

Squad Situation

India is playing with a second-string team of 18 players because the main team is preparing for away friendlies against New Zealand in Auckland and Christchurch on November 12 and 15. Indian Super League clubs were also hesitant to release players since the match fell outside the official FIFA international window of November 9 to 17. The All India Football Federation stated that 18 players travelled from Kolkata to Dhaka on November 3, and 10 more players will join later when the FIFA window opens.

Tournament Schedule

India will play their second Group B match against Maldives on November 11 at the National Stadium in Dhaka. The tournament features six teams, with Group A including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. The top two teams from each group will move on to the semifinals on November 14, and the final will take place on November 17. U-23 head coach Naushad Moosa leads the Indian team, with Bibiano Fernandes serving as assistant coach.

Context

India has a strong history in this regional competition, having won the tournament nine times out of the 14 previous editions since 1993, alongside four runner-up finishes and one third-place finish. Pakistan, coached by former Peruvian international Nolberto Solano, entered this tournament following matches in the ASEAN Cup and seeks to build on recent improvements under his leadership.