India SAFF Championship 2026 Schedule: Blue Tigers to Face Pakistan and Maldives in Dhaka
Defending champions India will begin their SAFF Championship 2026 campaign against Pakistan on November 5 in Dhaka before facing Maldives in their second Group B match on November 11. The Blue Tigers have been drawn in a three-team group, with the top two sides advancing to the semi-finals.
India’s SAFF Championship 2026 Schedule
Date | Fixture | Time (IST) | Venue |
November 5 | Pakistan vs India | 3:00 PM | National Stadium, Dhaka |
November 11 | India vs Maldives | 3:00 PM | National Stadium, Dhaka |
November 14 | Semi-finals | 2:30 PM / 8:00 PM | National Stadium, Dhaka |
November 17 | Final | 7:30 PM | National Stadium, Dhaka |
All matches of the tournament will be played at the National Stadium in Dhaka. Hosts Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan are in Group A, while India, Maldives and Pakistan make up Group B. The semi-finals are scheduled for November 14, with the final to be played three days later.
India will enter the tournament as defending champions after winning the previous edition in 2023, when they defeated Kuwait in the final in Bengaluru. The Blue Tigers will now be aiming for a record-extending 10th SAFF Championship title.
Naushad Moosa, who is the head coach of the India U23 men’s team, will lead the senior side for the tournament. Bibiano Fernandes, who recently coached India at the FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival Azerbaijan 2026, has been named assistant coach. Parshuram Salwadi will serve as goalkeeping coach, while Saifulla is the strength and conditioning coach.
The squad will travel to Bangladesh in phases. Eighteen players are scheduled to leave for Dhaka from Kolkata on November 3, while the remaining ten will join the group over the following days.
India’s 28-Player Squad for SAFF Championship 2026
Goalkeepers: Arsh Anwer Shaikh, Mohanraj K, Priyansh Dubey
Defenders: Abdul Rabeeh, Bijoy Varghese, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Khaiminthang Lhungdim, Muhammed Uvais, Nathan Rodrigues, Ronney Kharbudon, Sandip Mandi
Midfielders: Abhishek Suryavanshi, Adison Singh Thokchom, Brison Fernandes, Ebindas Yesudasan, Farukh Choudhary, Macarton Nickson, Manglenthang Kipgen, Nikhil Prabhu, Noufal PN, Ricky John Shabong, Suresh Singh Wangjam
Forwards: Irfan Yadwad, Liston Colaco, Muhammad Suhail, Vishnu PV, Suhail Ahmad Bhat
Head Coach: Naushad Moosa
Assistant Coach: Bibiano Fernandes
Goalkeeping Coach: Parshuram Salwadi
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Saifulla
The short group stage means India will have little margin for error. With only two league matches before the semi-finals, the opening fixture against Pakistan could have an immediate bearing on qualification, while the Maldives match on November 11 will complete India’s group-stage campaign.
