Pakistan vs Maldives SAFF Championship 2026: What Pakistan Need on 8 November to Reach the Semi-Finals
Pakistan play the Maldives at the SAFF Championship 2026 in Dhaka on 8 November. See what a win, draw or loss means, semi-final dates and where to watch.
Pakistan play the Maldives in the SAFF Championship 2026 on Sunday 8 November at the National Stadium in Dhaka, and only a win keeps the semi-final in their own hands. Pakistan lost 3-2 to India on 5 November. Group B has just three teams, so this is Pakistan's last group game.
Below is every outcome for Pakistan, the dates of the semi-finals and final, and where to watch in Pakistan. The kick-off time was not on any official page we could read on 7 November, so check the Myco app on Sunday morning.
A win keeps Pakistan in the top two unless the Maldives then beat India
If Pakistan beat the Maldives, they reach three points and finish ahead of the Maldives on head-to-head. They would then miss out only if the Maldives beat India on 11 November, which would put all three teams on three points and send it to goals.
The top two in Group B go to the semi-finals, the All India Football Federation report of 5 November says. India already have three points. Pakistan have none, and the Maldives have not played. Here is what each result on Sunday means:
| Pakistan v Maldives result | Pakistan points | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan win | 3 | Pakistan go through if India beat or draw with the Maldives on 11 November |
| Draw | 1 | Pakistan need India to beat the Maldives, then tie-breaks decide second place |
| Maldives win | 0 | Pakistan are out with no games left |
These cases are our own reading of a three-team group. We have not read SAFF's tie-break rules, because they were not on any SAFF page we could open. Goal difference and head-to-head are the usual tools, but check SAFF's own notice if it comes to that.
Pakistan lost 3-2 to India after two goals in added time
India led 3-0 after 31 minutes on 5 November, through two goals from Suhail Ahmad Bhat and one from Manglenthang Kipgen. Najeeb Ullah and Alamgir Ghazi scored for Pakistan in added time. Pakistan also missed a penalty, the AIFF report says.
That late fightback matters now. It left Pakistan with a goal difference of minus one, not minus three. If the group ends level on points, every goal could count. A big win over the Maldives would help Pakistan in the worst case, where all three teams finish on three points.
Shayak Dost took the missed penalty after Hayyaan Khattak was fouled. Yousuf Butt kept goal. The full match report, with every goal, is on our page on India 3, Pakistan 2.
The Maldives play their first match of the tournament
The Maldives have not played yet, so they arrive fresh while Pakistan play again only three days after the India game. The Maldives then face India on 11 November. FIFA's match calendar lists both of their games at the same stadium in Dhaka.
Pakistan know the Maldives well this year. Pakistan beat them 3-0 in a friendly in Male on 4 June 2026, FIFA's records show. That was part of a June trip that also brought two wins over Afghanistan.
A friendly is not a tournament game, though. The Maldives will need points too, because their last match is against the defending champions. Expect them to treat Sunday as their best chance of a result.
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 5 November | India 3, Pakistan 2 | National Stadium, Dhaka |
| Sunday 8 November | Pakistan v Maldives | National Stadium, Dhaka |
| Wednesday 11 November | Maldives v India, 2:30 pm PKT | National Stadium, Dhaka |
| Saturday 14 November | Semi-finals | Dhaka |
| Tuesday 17 November | Final | Dhaka |
The kick-off time for Sunday is not published yet
We could not find the Pakistan vs Maldives kick-off time on an official page on 7 November. FIFA's calendar stores it as a placeholder. India's games are listed at 15:00 India time, which is 2:30 pm in Pakistan, but that does not confirm Pakistan's slot.
Dhaka is one hour ahead of Pakistan. So if you see a time in Bangladesh time, take away one hour for PKT. If you see India time, take away 30 minutes. Here is the easiest way to be ready:
- Open the Myco app on Sunday morning and look for the Pakistan v Maldives listing.
- Note whether the time shown is PKT, Dhaka time or India time.
- Convert it: minus one hour from Dhaka time, or minus 30 minutes from India time.
- Log in 15 minutes early to fix any password or payment problem.
Our earlier page on the India match kick-off time shows how the India slot was confirmed.
Myco is the official way to watch in Pakistan
SAFF named Myco as its official OTT and broadcast partner in Pakistan on 30 September 2026. OTT means a streaming app. No Pakistani TV channel was named in that notice, so the app is the safe choice.
Our step-by-step guide on watching the SAFF Championship on Myco covers sign-up. Stay away from "free live" links in comments and WhatsApp groups. They often carry adverts, fake apps or malware.
Pakistan's whole 2026 record, including the ASEAN Cup in September, is on our page of Pakistan football results in 2026.
Common questions
When is Pakistan vs Maldives at the SAFF Championship 2026?
On Sunday 8 November 2026 at the National Stadium in Dhaka. The kick-off time was not on an official page on 7 November.
What does Pakistan need to reach the SAFF semi-finals?
A win over the Maldives, then India not losing to the Maldives on 11 November. A loss on Sunday ends Pakistan's campaign.
Is Pakistan out of the SAFF Championship after losing to India?
No. Pakistan lost 3-2 but can still finish second in the three-team group by beating the Maldives.
Have Pakistan beaten the Maldives this year?
Yes. Pakistan won 3-0 in a friendly in Male on 4 June 2026, according to FIFA's records.
When are the SAFF Championship 2026 semi-finals and final?
The semi-finals are on 14 November and the final on 17 November 2026, the AIFF says, in Dhaka.
Which app shows Pakistan vs Maldives in Pakistan?
Myco, which SAFF named as its official OTT and broadcast partner for Pakistan on 30 September 2026.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
We read the AIFF match report and its 6 November follow-up on 7 November 2026, plus FIFA's match calendar for the fixtures and the June friendly. We also checked the SAFF website, which had no new match notice. The outcome table is our own reading. We will add the result once an official report confirms it.
About the author
Senior Writer, Public Services and Technology
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
