SAFF Championship 2026: Pakistan Play India on 5 November in Dhaka, Full Schedule
Pakistan face India on 5 November and the Maldives on 8 November at the SAFF Championship 2026 in Dhaka. See the full schedule, groups and the Nepal question.
Pakistan play India on 5 November 2026 in Dhaka in their first match at the SAFF Championship 2026, then face the Maldives on 8 November. Both games are at the national stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The tournament final is on 17 November. Kick-off times have not been published yet.
We read the fixture list in FIFA's official match calendar and the announcements of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) on 10 October 2026. The SAFF Championship is South Asia's main men's national team tournament. This year's edition is sponsored by TECNO and hosted by Bangladesh.
Pakistan come into it straight after the FIFA ASEAN Cup, where they lost to Thailand and Vietnam and drew with the Philippines. Group B is short and sharp: two games, and India in the first one.
Pakistan's SAFF Championship 2026 fixtures in Group B
FIFA's calendar puts Pakistan in Group B with India and the Maldives. Pakistan play India on Thursday 5 November and the Maldives on Sunday 8 November. The Maldives then play India on 11 November, which closes the group.
| Date | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 5 November 2026 | India v Pakistan | B | Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka |
| Sunday 8 November 2026 | Pakistan v Maldives | B | Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka |
| Wednesday 11 November 2026 | Maldives v India | B | Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka |
FIFA's calendar shows the dates only, with no confirmed kick-off time. When SAFF publishes times, remember that Dhaka is one hour ahead of Pakistan. A 7:00 pm kick-off in Dhaka would be 6:00 pm PKT.
The full SAFF Championship 2026 schedule runs from 4 to 17 November
FIFA lists six group games from 4 to 11 November, all in Dhaka. Group A has Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Group B has India, Pakistan and the Maldives. SAFF says the final is on 17 November. We could not find official semi-final dates.
| Date | Match | Group |
|---|---|---|
| 4 November | Bangladesh v Sri Lanka | A |
| 5 November | India v Pakistan | B |
| 7 November | Sri Lanka v Bhutan | A |
| 8 November | Pakistan v Maldives | B |
| 10 November | Bhutan v Bangladesh | A |
| 11 November | Maldives v India | B |
| 17 November | Final | Knockout |
With three teams in each group, every side plays only twice. A single bad result can end the campaign. For Pakistan, the game against the Maldives on 8 November may decide more than the India match does.
SAFF's own dates differ, and Nepal's place is the reason
SAFF's fixture announcement of 15 September said the tournament would start on 5 November with Pakistan v India. It also said the schedule could change, with a possible start on 4 November, depending on whether Nepal takes part. FIFA's calendar now starts on 4 November and does not list Nepal.
Here is how the official sources compare:
- SAFF, 13 September: the championship runs in Dhaka from 4 to 17 November.
- SAFF, 15 September: kick-off on 5 November with Pakistan v India, final on 17 November, and a possible 4 November start if Nepal's entry is confirmed.
- SAFF, 30 September: the event is at the National Stadium in Dhaka from 5 to 17 November.
- FIFA calendar, read 10 October: six group games from 4 to 11 November, six teams, no Nepal.
Nepal's football association was at the tournament launch in Dhaka on 25 July, according to SAFF. We have not found a SAFF notice that says whether Nepal is in or out. The Pakistan dates are the same in every source, so they are the safe part.
Pakistan arrive after three games at the FIFA ASEAN Cup
Pakistan's last competitive games were at the FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia. FIFA's results show a 0-4 loss to Thailand on 26 September, a 2-2 draw with the Philippines on 29 September and a 4-2 loss to Vietnam on 2 October.
| Date | Match | Result for Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
| 26 September 2026 | Pakistan v Thailand | Lost 0-4 |
| 29 September 2026 | Philippines v Pakistan | Drew 2-2 |
| 2 October 2026 | Vietnam v Pakistan | Lost 2-4 |
Four goals in three games against stronger sides is something to build on. Ten conceded is the worry. The FIFA ASEAN Cup schedule and viewing details and the Pakistan vs Thailand match page cover that trip.
How to follow Pakistan at the SAFF Championship
The safest way to follow the games is through official channels, because squads, times and broadcasters are not confirmed yet. SAFF has named Tickify as the official ticketing partner for matches in Dhaka. No Pakistani broadcaster has been announced that we could find.
- Check the SAFF website for the final fixture list and kick-off times.
- Check the Pakistan Football Federation's official site, pff.com.pk, for the squad.
- Use FIFA's free live scores on match days for official results.
- Buy tickets in Dhaka only through the official ticketing partner named by SAFF.
- Do not trust stream links on social media. Wait for an official broadcaster.
One more warning. The old addresses pff.org.pk and www.pff.org.pk now show an unrelated online store. Only pff.com.pk is linked from SAFF's own site as the Pakistan Football Federation.
Common questions
When is Pakistan vs India in the SAFF Championship 2026?
On Thursday 5 November 2026 at the national stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The kick-off time has not been published yet.
Which group is Pakistan in at the SAFF Championship 2026?
Group B, with India and the Maldives, according to FIFA's match calendar. Group A has Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
Where is the SAFF Championship 2026 being played?
In Dhaka, Bangladesh. FIFA lists every group game at Bangabandhu National Stadium.
When is the SAFF Championship 2026 final?
On 17 November 2026, according to SAFF. The semi-final dates were not published on the pages we read.
Is Nepal playing in the SAFF Championship 2026?
Unclear. SAFF said in September that Nepal's participation was pending, and FIFA's current calendar does not list Nepal.
Where can I watch Pakistan in the SAFF Championship in Pakistan?
No broadcaster for Pakistan has been announced yet. Avoid unofficial stream links and wait for an official announcement.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 10 October 2026, about 5:55 am PKT. We read:
- FIFA match calendar, SAFF Championship 2026 Bangladesh, all listed fixtures, and Pakistan's FIFA ASEAN Cup results.
- SAFF, "Fixtures for TECNO SAFF Championship Bangladesh 2026 announced", 15 September 2026.
- SAFF announcements of 13 September 2026 (commercial rights, 4 to 17 November) and 30 September 2026 (partners, Tickify ticketing), and the launch notice of 25 July 2026.
The PKT conversion is ours. Kick-off times, squads, semi-final dates and broadcasters were not published when we checked.
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.
