Karachi, August 1, 2026: Pakistan have been drawn alongside arch-rivals India and the Maldives in Group B of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship 2026, setting the stage for another highly anticipated clash between the two neighbours at the regional football tournament in Bangladesh.
The draw for the six-team championship was held in Thimphu on Saturday. The tournament will be hosted by Bangladesh from November 4 to 17, with the hosts placed in Group A alongside Nepal and Bhutan.
Defending champions India will begin their title defence in Group B against Pakistan and the Maldives after lifting the SAFF Championship trophy in 2023 with a victory over Kuwait in the final on home soil.
The 2026 edition was originally scheduled to feature seven teams. However, the number of participating nations was reduced to six following FIFA’s suspension of the Nepal Football Association.
Under the tournament format, each team will face the other two sides in its group once during the league stage, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the semi-finals.
Before competing in the SAFF Championship, Pakistan will make history by participating in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, scheduled during the September-October international window in Indonesia.
The tournament will mark the Pakistan men’s national team’s debut in an official FIFA competition, following the women’s team’s participation in the FIFA Series earlier this year.
Pakistan are among 14 participating nations and one of eight teams competing in the tournament’s top tier. The Green Shirts have been drawn in Division One Group B alongside Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines, while Division One Group A comprises India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
The back-to-back appearances in two major international tournaments are expected to provide valuable exposure for Pakistan as the national side continues its efforts to strengthen its presence in regional and international football.
