Pakistan vs India SAFF Championship 2026: Pakistan lose 3-2 in Dhaka despite two stoppage-time goals

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

Minutes as recorded by LiveScore.

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. 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. 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. 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.