India-Pakistan clash to headline SAFF Championship opener

Football fans in Bangladesh are in for a nail-biting start to the TECNO SAFF Championship Bangladesh 2026, with arch-rivals India and Pakistan set to lock horns in the tournament's opening fixture in Dhaka.
According to the match schedule released on Tuesday, the high-voltage Group B encounter will take place at 3:30pm on 5 November at the Dhaka National Stadium. The same day, hosts Bangladesh will begin their campaign against Bhutan at 8:00pm, giving supporters a double bill of regional football.

Bangladesh, drawn in Group A alongside Sri Lanka and Bhutan, will face Bhutan in their opening group match before taking on Sri Lanka in their second and final group fixture on 11 November at 8pm. Sri Lanka and Bhutan will meet on 8 November in the other Group A encounter.

In Group B, defending champions India, Maldives and Pakistan will battle for the two semi-final berths. Following the India-Pakistan opener, Pakistan will face Maldives on 8 November, while India will meet Maldives on 11 November.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. The first semi-final is scheduled for 14 November at 3pm, followed by the second at 8:30pm. The final will be played on 17 November at 8pm, with all matches scheduled to take place at the Dhaka National Stadium.

The schedule remains subject to a possible change concerning Nepal. The Himalayan side was omitted from the August 1 draw in Thimphu because of its FIFA suspension. If the suspension is lifted by 30 September, Nepal will be added to Group A, prompting the organisers to issue a revised schedule.

The tournament will mark Bangladesh's fourth time as hosts, following the 2003, 2009 and 2018 editions. The hosts, who won their only title in 2003, will hope to turn home advantage into another memorable chapter in their football history.