LAHORE: Pakistan will face arch-rivals India and the Maldives in the group stage of the 2026 SAFF Championship after the draws were made at the SAFF Congress in Thimbu, Bhutan on Saturday.

Pakistan were drawn in Group ‘B’ of the region’s premier tournament which runs from Nov 4 to 17 in Bangladesh.

Hosts Bangladesh were drawn alongside Sri Lanka and Bhutan in Group ‘A’ of the six-nation event. Pakistan head into the tournament on the back of a historic title at the Diamond Jubilee International Tournament in the Maldives in June. Ahead of the SAFF Championship, Nolberto Solano’s men will participate in the inaugural FIFA Asean Cup in September-October.

Pakistan’s most recent meeting with the Maldives came during the Diamond Jubilee tournament where the former romped to a 3-0 triumph thanks to goals by Umer Nawaz, Abdul Samad and Harun Hamid.

Pakistan’s match against India, the defending champions, will be the first between the traditional rivals since the 2023 SAFF Championship, where Pakistan suffered a 4-0 loss.

Also at the SAFF Congress, president Kazi Salahuddin was re-elected unopposed for another term.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2026