Pakistan to Face India in SAFF Championship Opener in Dhaka on November 5

DHAKA, November 3: Pakistan's national football team is set to arrive in Dhaka for the TECNO SAFF Championship 2026, with the South Asian football tournament scheduled to kick off on November 5 at the National Stadium.

Pakistan will begin its Group B campaign against arch-rivals India at 3:30pm Bangladesh Standard Time (BST) on Thursday, marking the opening match of the regional championship.

The Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka announced the team's participation in a post on its official social media account on Tuesday noon, wishing the national squad success in the tournament.

"We wish our squad the best of luck in the tournament," the High Commission said.

The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) is organising the championship in Bangladesh, with six teams — hosts Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka — competing for the regional title. Nepal will miss the competition due to its FIFA suspension, according to SAFF General Secretary P Kattel.

Speaking to ANI, Kattel said preparations for the tournament had been completed, while delegations and players from participating countries had started arriving in Dhaka.

The 2026 edition will also mark a milestone for South Asian football with the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology for the first time in the region's premier football competition.

According to Kattel, VAR will be used in the semi-finals and final, while internal trials will be conducted during the group-stage matches ahead of its full implementation in the knockout rounds.

"We are expecting a good football carnival for the next two weeks," he said, inviting supporters from Bangladesh, South Asia and beyond to watch the tournament.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to attend the final on November 17 as the chief guest.

The championship is expected to draw significant regional attention, particularly with India and Pakistan renewing their football rivalry on Bangladeshi soil in the opening fixture.