Thimphu, Bhutan , 01 August 2026( Kamran Raja): Pakistan has been drawn alongside arch-rivals India and the Maldives in Group Bof the 2026 SAFF Championship, following the official draw held during the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Congress in Thimphu, Bhutan, on Saturday.
The region’s premier football tournament will be hosted by Bangladesh from November 4 to November 17, 2026.
Hosts Bangladesh have been placed in Group A with Sri Lanka and Bhutan, while Pakistan, India, and the Maldives will compete in Group B for a place in the knockout stage.
Pakistan enters the championship with renewed confidence after securing a historic title at the Diamond Jubilee International Tournament in the Maldives in June 2026. The Shaheens defeated the Maldives 3-0 in that tournament, with goals from Umer Nawaz, Abdul Samad, and Harun Hamid, highlighting the team’s growing strength on the international stage.
Before the SAFF Championship, Pakistan will also participate in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, scheduled to be held during September and October, providing valuable international exposure for the national squad under head coach Nolberto Solano.
The much-anticipated clash between Pakistan and India will mark the first meeting between the two rivals since the 2023 SAFF Championship, where India claimed a 4-0 victory. Football fans across South Asia are expected to closely follow this high-profile encounter.
Meanwhile, the SAFF Congress also unanimously re-elected Kazi Salahuddin as President of the South Asian Football Federation for another term, reaffirming confidence in his leadership.
The Pakistan Football Federation expressed optimism that the national team will continue its impressive progress and deliver a strong performance in the region’s most prestigious football championship.