# SAFF Championship 2026: Pakistan beat Maldives 3-0 and reach the semi-finals

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/sports/saff-championship-2026-pakistan-results-schedule)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 5 Nov 2026
Updated: 8 Nov 2026
Retrieved: 8 Nov 2026

> Two goals in the first 10 minutes in Dhaka gave Pakistan their first SAFF win over the Maldives and a semi-final place, three days after a 3-2 loss to India. Results, Group B table and what comes next.

## Update, Sunday 8 November: Pakistan beat Maldives 3-0 and are through to the semi-finals

**Pakistan beat the Maldives 3-0 at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday, their first win over the Maldives in the history of the SAFF Championship**, Maldivian outlet [The Edition reported](https://edition.mv/sports/55595). Pakistan scored twice inside the first 10 minutes: **McKeal Aroon Abdullah** from the penalty spot, then **Najeeb Ullah**, his second goal of the tournament after his stoppage-time strike against India. The Edition credited the third goal to Mujeebullah. The Maldives improved after half-time changes but could not score, and [Nukta](https://nukta.com/pakistan-maldives-saff-championship) described head coach Nolberto Solano's side as dominant from the start.

**Pakistan are now certain of a semi-final place.** Here is the arithmetic for Group B, where the top two of three go through:

| Team | Played | Points | Goal difference |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| India | 1 | 3 | +1 |
| Pakistan | 2 | 3 | +2 |
| Maldives | 1 | 0 | -3 |

- If India beat or draw with the Maldives on Wednesday 11 November (2:30pm PKT), India top the group and Pakistan finish second.
- If the Maldives win, all three teams have 3 points, but India's goal difference drops to zero or below, so India cannot pass Pakistan, and Pakistan still finish in the top two.

The Daily Star in Dhaka also [reported Pakistan as the first team into the semi-finals](https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/football/news/pakistan-first-team-reach-saff-championship-semifinals-4318406). **The semi-finals are on Saturday 14 November and the final on Tuesday 17 November.** Pakistan's opponent depends on the Group A table and on whether they finish first or second in Group B; this page will carry the fixture and the PKT kick-off once SAFF confirms it.

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## Thursday 5 November: Pakistan lose 3-2 to India in the opener

**Pakistan lost 3-2 to India in the opening match of the SAFF Championship 2026** at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday, 5 November. India were 3-0 up by the 32nd minute and Pakistan missed a first-half penalty, but **Najeeb Ullah** and **Alamgir Ghazi** scored in stoppage time to make the last minutes nervy for the defending champions.

## How the goals went in

| Minute | Goal | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 14' | Suhail Bhat (India) | 0-1 |
| 20' | Suhail Bhat (India) | 0-2 |
| 32' | Manglenthang Kipgen (India) | 0-3 |
| 90+1' | Najeeb Ullah (Pakistan) | 1-3 |
| 90+4' | Alamgir Ghazi (Pakistan) | 2-3 |

Minutes as recorded by [LiveScore](https://www.livescore.com/en/football/asia/saff-championship-group-b/pakistan-vs-india/1904585/).

India's first two goals came from quick build-up play finished by **Suhail Bhat**, the second from a through-ball by Suryavanshi, according to [Dainik Jagran's live coverage](https://www.thedailyjagran.com/sports/news/india-vs-pakistan-saff-championship-2026-live-updates-ind-pak-football-match-scorecard-gurpreet-singh-sandhu-alamgir-ghazi-dhaka-national-stadium-10335260). **Kipgen** added the third soon after.

Pakistan's best first-half chance came in the 34th minute, when Khattak was brought down in the Indian area and the referee gave a penalty. **Shayak Dost** put it over the bar. Pakistan's Ali Zeb was booked before the break. Two stoppage-time goals, from Najeeb Ullah in the 91st minute and Alamgir Ghazi in the 94th, cut the gap to one, but the whistle went before Pakistan could find an equaliser.

## A tough build-up for both sides

Neither team arrived in ideal shape. Pakistan, ranked **197th** by FIFA, went into the match without a single training session in Dhaka because their **luggage was stuck at Qatar airport**, [The Times of India reported](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/saff-india-face-pak-in-opener-with-just-17-players/articleshow/135550223.cms). India, ranked **138th** and chasing a record 10th SAFF title, named only **17 players** under stand-in coach **Naushad Moosa**, with ten others kept back by their Indian Super League clubs and the senior side due to play friendlies in New Zealand.

## What Pakistan need now

The six teams are in two groups of three, and the top two in each group reach the semi-finals, according to [Outlook India's tournament guide](https://www.outlookindia.com/sports/football/saff-championship-2026-guide-schedule-squads-live-streaming). Group B is India, Pakistan and the Maldives.

- **Pakistan vs Maldives:** Sunday 8 November, 2:30pm PKT, National Stadium, Dhaka. Pakistan must win; after a one-goal defeat, goal difference is still within reach.
- **India vs Maldives:** Wednesday 11 November, 2:30pm PKT.
- **Semi-finals:** Saturday 14 November. **Final:** Tuesday 17 November.

A win over the Maldives would give Pakistan three points and a real chance of second place in the group.

## Frequently asked questions

**What was the Pakistan vs Maldives football score?**

Pakistan won 3-0 in the SAFF Championship 2026 in Dhaka on 8 November, with goals from McKeal Aroon Abdullah (penalty), Najeeb Ullah and a third credited to Mujeebullah.

**Have Pakistan qualified for the SAFF Championship 2026 semi-finals?**

Yes. With 3 points and a goal difference of +2, Pakistan cannot finish lower than second in Group B whatever happens in India vs Maldives on 11 November. The semi-finals are on 14 November.

**When is Pakistan's next SAFF Championship match?**

Pakistan play the Maldives on Sunday 8 November 2026 at 2:30pm PKT at the National Stadium in Dhaka.

## Sources

- Pakistan vs India live score, SAFF Championship Group B (LiveScore): https://www.livescore.com/en/football/asia/saff-championship-group-b/pakistan-vs-india/1904585/
- India vs Pakistan SAFF Cup live updates (5 Nov 2026) (Dainik Jagran): https://www.thedailyjagran.com/sports/news/india-vs-pakistan-saff-championship-2026-live-updates-ind-pak-football-match-scorecard-gurpreet-singh-sandhu-alamgir-ghazi-dhaka-national-stadium-10335260
- SAFF: India face Pak in opener with just 17 players (5 Nov 2026) (The Times of India): https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/saff-india-face-pak-in-opener-with-just-17-players/articleshow/135550223.cms
- SAFF Championship 2026 guide: schedule, squads, live streaming (Outlook India): https://www.outlookindia.com/sports/football/saff-championship-2026-guide-schedule-squads-live-streaming
- Maldives loses to Pakistan for the first time in SAFF Championship history (The Edition): https://edition.mv/sports/55595
- Pakistan thrash Maldives 3-0 to keep SAFF Championship hopes alive (Nukta): https://nukta.com/pakistan-maldives-saff-championship
- Pakistan first team to reach SAFF Championship semifinals (The Daily Star): https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/football/news/pakistan-first-team-reach-saff-championship-semifinals-4318406

How to cite: "SAFF Championship 2026: Pakistan beat Maldives 3-0 and reach the semi-finals", Searchable, 8 Nov 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/sports/saff-championship-2026-pakistan-results-schedule