India opened their SAFF Championship 2026 campaign with a 3-2 victory against the Pakistan football team at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday, November 5. Striker Suhail Bhat and midfielder Kipgen starred for the defending champions, who built a lead before surviving a late second-half surge from their regional rivals.
The match kicked off at 3 PM IST, marking the opening fixture of Group B for both sides. Despite securing three points, the tight scoreline brought immediate scrutiny to India’s defensive structure in the closing minutes of the game.
India entered the tournament under head coach Naushad Moosa with a significantly depleted squad. The coaching staff had just 18 players available for selection in Dhaka, forcing Moosa to field a second-string lineup for the high-pressure opener against the Pakistan football team.
Suhail Bhat led the attack effectively from the start, putting India ahead and anchoring the forward line. Kipgen delivered a standout performance alongside Bhat, controlling key periods of play and helping India build a multi-goal cushion. Their combined effort appeared to put the match out of reach early in the second half, allowing the defending champions to control the pace of the game.
The final quarter of the match exposed vulnerabilities in India’s setup. The Pakistan football team pushed forward aggressively late in the second half, scoring two quick goals that dramatically shifted the momentum in Dhaka.
For instance, when a team travels with a stripped-down roster of just 18 players rather than a full squad, tactical substitutions are severely limited in the final 20 minutes. As fatigue sets in on tired legs, gaps open between the midfield and the defensive line—exactly what happened to India when Pakistan mounted their late comeback.
Sportstar reported that these late goals exposed deeper midfield and defensive frailties within Moosa’s team. India struggled to retain possession in central areas during stoppage time, allowing Pakistan to flood the penalty box with direct passes. India held on for the 3-2 win, and players from both sides shook hands on the pitch after the final whistle in a clear display of sportsmanship.
The men’s match at Dhaka’s National Stadium on Thursday formed part of a broader South Asian football schedule running across the region. Fans following the India vs Pakistan SAFF Championship 2026 contest live were able to watch the broadcast online through the Veto app.
Broadcast coverage for the regional tournament also includes the ongoing SAFF Women’s Championship, where matches featuring India and the Pakistan football team are being broadcast across live streaming platforms under similar regional rights agreements.
India leaves the National Stadium with three points to top their initial Group B standings, but head coach Naushad Moosa faces immediate tactical adjustments before the next round of fixtures. Managing player rotation within an 18-man squad will remain a primary challenge as the tournament progresses.
With defensive lapses late in the game almost costing India their lead, Moosa’s focus turns directly to midfield organization and defensive tightening ahead of their second Group B fixture.
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