Pakistan have qualified for the SAFF Championship 2026 semifinals after India’s 1-0 win over the Maldives, confirming them in the top two of Group B.
Suhail Ahmad Bhat scored the winner for India from a 38th-minute penalty at the National Stadium after Abdul Rabeeh was fouled in the box. India finished first with six points from two games. Pakistan took second with three points and a goal difference of +2, after scoring five goals and conceding three.
The Maldives lost both matches, scoring none and conceding four.
Pakistan began the tournament with a 3-2 defeat to India in the opener. Suhail scored twice for India and Kipgen added a third in the 32nd minute. India fielded a young squad coached by Under-23 manager Naushad Moosa, because the senior side is playing friendlies against New Zealand.
Pakistan bounced back on Sunday with a 3-0 win over the Maldives. Striker Najeeb Ullah Khan, 19, scored twice in the first half. Coach Nolberto Solano made four changes to the side that lost to India.
Pakistan will now face the Group A winner in the semifinals on Saturday, November 14, at the National Stadium in Dhaka. That opponent is not yet confirmed.
Bangladesh, the hosts, have three points after a 1-0 win over Bhutan in the opener. Substitute Mohammad Ibrahim scored the goal. Bangladesh qualified for the last four when Sri Lanka and Bhutan drew 2-2 on Sunday. The result left Sri Lanka and Bhutan with one point each.
Bangladesh play Sri Lanka tonight in the final Group A match. They will top the group if they win or draw and go on to meet Pakistan. A Sri Lanka win would put Sri Lanka first, and Pakistan would face them instead.
A draw is enough for Sri Lanka to reach the semifinals, but Bhutan need Sri Lanka to lose to have a chance.
India, as Group B winners, will play the Group A runners-up in the other semifinal on the same day.
The final takes place on November 17.
