India vs Pakistan: All-time Head-to-head record ahead of SAFF Championship 2026

The Blue Tigers are the defending champions of the SAFF Championship.

India, the defending champions and the most successful team in SAFF Championship history with nine titles, will kick off their campaign in the 2026 edition of the tournament against Pakistan, who have never won the competition. Their best-ever finish came in 1997, when they secured third place.

Rivalries are always special in sport, be it cricket, football, or any other discipline. When two neighbouring nations with a long history, not just in sport but also in terms of political tensions and complex relations, face each other, the contest means a lot to citizens of both countries who follow their respective national football teams.

The Blue Tigers, winners of the previous two editions of the competition, are set to compete in the 2026 SAFF Championship with a second-string squad led by Naushad Moosa, while the senior team is scheduled to take part in two friendlies against New Zealand.

They also face further selection concerns ahead of the opening clash against Pakistan, as some players will only be available from the second game onwards.

The situation is similar for Pakistan, who have increasingly relied on their diaspora players in recent times to improve their standing in international football. Four of the most crucial players in their 28-member squad will only be available from the knockout stages, which will be a major blow ahead of the game against India.

On paper, Naushad Moosa’s Blue Tigers are favourites despite fielding a second-string side. Pakistan, meanwhile, will need to put in their best possible performance to secure a victory.

As both sides prepare for the opening clash, let’s take a look at the history these two nations share on the football pitch.

India have won their last five meetings against Pakistan.

India and Pakistan have faced each other 29 times in their history, with India holding a significant advantage. The Blue Tigers have won 16 times and drawn nine, while Pakistan have managed just four victories.

Pakistan’s most recent victory came all the way back in 2005, when they defeated India 3-0 in a friendly in Lahore.

Before that, they had beaten India in 2003, registering a surprise 1-0 victory against Stephen Constantine’s side in the group stage of the 2003 SAFF Championship.

However, the Blue Tigers got their revenge in the third-place playoff, defeating the Falcons 2-1 after extra time, with IM Vijayan and Abhishek Yadav scoring the goals.

Recent meetings between the two sides have been one-way traffic, with the Blue Tigers winning all of their last five encounters. Most of these matches have taken place in the SAFF Championship, with the Blue Tigers scoring 13 goals and conceding just three.

When the two nations met at the same stadium in 2018, India U-23 defeated Pakistan 3-1, with Manvir Singh and Sumeet Passi scoring in the semi-final.

The most recent meeting between the two sides should still be fresh in the minds of Indian football fans. Igor Stimac’s side registered a convincing 4-0 win over their arch-rivals on a rainy night at a packed Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

Naushad Moosa will be hoping for a similar start to India’s SAFF Championship title defence, given the Blue Tigers’ historical superiority over Pakistan.

Head-to-Head Record

Matches played: 29

India wins: 16

Pakistan wins: 4

Draws: 9

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