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🇮🇳 Trending in India · 9 November 2026

What is the SAFF Championship? Pakistan's semifinal run explained

Pakistan beat Maldives 3-0 in Dhaka on 8 November 2026 and became the first team to reach the semifinals of the 2026 SAFF Championship. India's final group match against Maldives on 11 November will decide the rest of the group places.
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What is the SAFF Championship?

The SAFF Championship is South Asia's main men's international football tournament, played by national teams from the region. It is organised by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), which is one of the regional bodies under the Asian Football Confederation. The tournament was first held in 1993, when it was called the SAARC Gold Cup, and it has carried the SAFF Championship name since 2008.

The 2026 edition in Bangladesh

The 2026 tournament is the 15th edition and runs from 5 to 17 November in Bangladesh, with the National Stadium in Dhaka as the main venue. Six teams take part: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan are in Group A, while India, Maldives and Pakistan are in Group B. The top team of each group and the runner-up of the other group move into the semifinals.

Why Pakistan is in the news

Pakistan lost their opening match 3-2 to India, so they needed to win their second game to stay alive. On 8 November they beat Maldives 3-0, and 19-year-old striker Najeeb Ullah Khan scored twice in the first half. That win made Pakistan the first team to book a semifinal place in this edition.

What comes next

India play Maldives on 11 November, and the result will decide which team tops Group B. The semifinals are on 14 November, with the Group B winner facing the Group A runner-up in the first match. For India, the tournament has a long history: India has won nine of the first 14 editions, according to Olympics.com, and Pakistan's best finish in the tournament came third place in 1997.

Quick points

  1. A regional football championship

    The SAFF Championship is a men's football tournament for national teams of South Asia, run by the South Asian Football Federation.

  2. Started as the SAARC Gold Cup

    The first edition was held in 1993 under the name SAARC Gold Cup. It has been called the SAFF Championship since 2008.

  3. 2026 is hosted by Bangladesh

    Six teams play in two groups in Dhaka from 5 to 17 November 2026. India, Maldives and Pakistan are in Group B.

  4. Pakistan's rise to the semifinals

    After a 3-2 loss to India, Pakistan beat Maldives 3-0 on 8 November and became the first team into the semifinals.

  5. Key dates to remember

    India vs Maldives is on 11 November. The semifinals are on 14 November, with the Group B winner facing the Group A runner-up in the first semifinal.

Quick quiz

1. Which body organises the SAFF Championship?

2. In which year was the first edition of this football tournament held, when it was known as the SAARC Gold Cup?

3. How many teams take part in the 2026 SAFF Championship?

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