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

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. 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 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:

• 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. 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

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.