SportsPosted at: Nov 4 2026 8:53PM


India begin SAFF Championship title defence against Pakistan in Dhaka

Dhaka, Nov 4 (UNI) Defending champions India will begin their SAFF Championship 2026 campaign against Pakistan in their opening Group B fixture at the National Stadium here in Bangladesh, on Thursday, at 15:00 IST.
The match will be streamed live on the Veto app. The Blue Tigers, who are aiming for a record-extending 10th SAFF Championship title, will be led by head coach Naushad Moosa.
India enter the tournament ranked 138th in the FIFA rankings, while Pakistan are placed 197th.
The two sides have met 29 times in senior internationals, with India winning 16 matches, Pakistan four and nine ending in draws. Their most recent meeting was at the SAFF Championship 2023
in Bengaluru, where India registered a 4-0 victory. Sunil Chhetri scored a hat-trick, while Udanta Singh Kumam added the fourth goal.
However, Moosa expects a different challenge this time around. “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. We would certainly like to win the match. I don't 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,” he said at the pre-tournament press conference
in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Moosa acknowledged the responsibility of defending the title and playing away from home, but stressed that his priority was for the team to focus on its football rather than the pressure of retaining the trophy.
“We are defending the title, and we are playing away from home, here in Bangladesh. As I said,
I have come here with a young team because we also have friendly matches against New Zealand, with one squad (led by senior national team head coach Khalid Jamil) 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,” he said.
India have been drawn alongside Pakistan and Maldives in Group B. The Blue Tigers will face Maldives in their second and final group fixture on November 11, also at 15:00 IST. Hosts Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan make up Group A.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, which will be played on November 14. The final is scheduled for November 17.
India won the previous edition in 2023, defeating Kuwait in the final in Bengaluru, and will look to retain their title as they begin their campaign in Dhaka.
UNI BM
Tags: #India begin SAFF Championship title defence against Pakistan in Dhaka
More News

Aramburu, Savarino named in Venezuela squad

04 Nov 2026 | 9:31 PM

Caracas, Nov 4 (UNI) Real Sociedad right-back Jon Aramburu and Fluminense attacker Jefferson Savarino were among 28 players named in Venezuela's squad for friendlies against the Basque Country and Russia later this month.

see more..

PSG sets Champions League record in Villarreal rout

04 Nov 2026 | 9:28 PM

Berlin, Nov 4 (UNI) Paris Saint-Germain maintained its perfect start to the UEFA Champions League with a commanding 6-0 victory away to Villarreal, scoring four goals in the opening 17 minutes to set a competition record.

see more..

Japan wins Youth Olympic mixed doubles table tennis gold

04 Nov 2026 | 9:25 PM

Dakar, Nov 4 (UNI) Miku Matsushima, 13, has shown that she can be just as formidable as her elder brother, Sora, teaming up with Ryuusei Kawakami to win the mixed doubles gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games.

see more..

Bulgaria's Nasar smashes three world records at weightlifting worlds

04 Nov 2026 | 9:21 PM

Ningbo, Nov 4 (UNI) Bulgaria's Karlos Nasar broke all three world records in the men's 95kg category to claim his fourth world title at the World Weightlifting Championships on Wednesday.

see more..

Oman clinch final automatic spot in CWC27 Qualifier

04 Nov 2026 | 9:14 PM

Dubai, Nov 4 (UNI) Oman have secured the final automatic qualification spot for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 Qualifier via the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2, finishing fourth in the standings as their final fixture against the UAE brings the 2024-2026 cycle to a close.

see more..