India vs Maldives: All-Time Head-to-Head Record ahead of SAFF Championship 2026
India have historically dominated their South Asian neighbours
The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship 2026 is underway in Bangladesh. India won their opening Group B game 3-2 against Pakistan, who in turn beat Maldives 3-0 to finish their 3 points in 2 games.
India and Maldives are set to lock horns on 11th November at the National Stadium in Dhaka. This is a must-win match for the Island nation, whereas Naushad Moosa’s Blue Tigers can finish as Group B winners with a draw as well.
The winners and runners-up from Group B will qualify for the semi-final, which will be played on 14th November.
All-time head-to-head record between India and Maldives
India and the Maldives have played each other 22 times so far. The first-ever match between these two nations was played in the South Asian Federation Games 1987, where the Blue Tigers registered a 5-0 win. Blue Army maintained their dominance, winning four of their next five games against Maldives in all competitions.
The Red Snappers eventually got their first win against them at the Golden Jubilee Tournament 2000, as Mohamed Nizam’s goal gave Maldives a 1-0 win. T
The Blue Tigers then won the next three head-to-head games before Maldives got back-to-back wins against India at the SAFF Championships in 2008 and 2009.
The most recent match between the two was a friendly that was played in March 2025. The Blue Tigers registered a 3-0 win with Rahul Bheke, Liston Colaco, and Sunil Chhetri scoring for Manolo Marquez’s side.
Going into Wednesday’s game, Khalid Jamil’s side will once again be the favourites against Maldives. If the Blue Tigers score early, they can pile a lot of pressure on their opponents, who have to win by a big margin to guarantee a place in the semi-final.
India vs Maldives: Head-to-Head Record in the SAFF Championship
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Games Played: 14
Won by India: 10
Won by Maldives: 3
Draws: 1
The Maldives’ most recent win against the Blue Tigers came in the SAFF Championship final in 2018 when Ali Fasir and Ibrahim Hassan scored to give their side a 2-1 win in Dhaka.
The Red Snappers won their second SAFF Championship on that night.
Incidentally, the Maldives football team beat India in the SAFF 2008 final as well to win their first title. The Blue Tigers, on the other hand, beat Maldives in the finals of the 1997 and 2009 editions to win their title.
Overall Head-to-Head Record
Games Played: 22
Won by India: 16
Won by Maldives: 4
Draws: 2
The biggest winning margin in a game between these two nations was the Blue Tigers’ 5-0 win over Maldives in 1987.
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