India vs Pakistan Preview: Predicted Lineups, Team News | SAFF Championship 2026
Naushad Moosa will coach the Indian side for the SAFF Championship 2026.
The Indian football team is set to begin its 2026 SAFF Championship campaign with a mouth-watering rivalry clash against Pakistan at the National Stadium (Dhaka) on Thursday (5 November, 2026).
The Blue Tigers might be playing with a youthful squad for this competition, but they will be determined to prove how strong they can still be with a dominant win over the Pakistani side in their opener.
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The Stakes
India
Naushad Moosa has been given the responsibility of ensuring that India are able to retain the SAFF Championship, which they won in 2023 as well.
There might not be any notable senior players in the squad, but Moosa still has many promising talents who are looking to prove their quality at the international level.
Heāll look to ensure that his players are able to torment the opposition side, playing some thrilling attacking football and being innovative with their build-up play to put Pakistan under pressure.
A big win for India to kick off their SAFF Championship campaign will give the morale boost the players need to go all the way, but dropping points in the opener itself can be particularly gutting for the youngsters.
Also Read: Top new faces to watch in the Indian football team for SAFF Championship 2026
Pakistan
Pakistan might be the lowest-rated national team (in the FIFA World Rankings) to participate in the 2026 SAFF Championship, but they are determined to pull off a few upsets in the competition.
Theyāll look to be a thorn for the Indian players by producing an energetic display, using their element of surprise to stun the Blue Tigers.
Nolberto Solano has opted to choose a nice blend of youngsters and experienced players for his SAFF Championship squad and will look to utilise his talents smathem to pop up surprises in the competition. Heāll look to shape them up to keep a compact defensive shape to frustrate opponents and also be decisive on the breaks.
A possible win for Pakistan will validate their progress under Solano, but a crushing loss would be a terrible start to the competition.
Team News
Naushad Moosa has travelled with a 28-man squad to Dhaka for the 2026 SAFF Championship.
Nolberto Solano has also named a pretty strong squad for the competition, with England-born Mckeal Aroon Abdullah getting his first call-up for the Pakistan squad.
Head-to-Head Record
The two sides have met 29 times in senior internationals, with India winning 16 matches, Pakistan four and nine ending in draws. Their most recent meeting was at the SAFF Championship 2023 in Bengaluru, where India registered a 4-0 victory. Sunil Chhetri scored a hat-trick, while Udanta Singh Kumam added the fourth goal.
Matches Played ā 29
India wins ā 16
Pakistan wins ā 4
Draws ā 9
Predicted Lineups
India (4-3-3 )
Priyansh (GK); Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Bijoy Varghese, Nikhil Prabhu, Muhammed Uvais ; Macarton Louis, Ricky Shabong, Ebindas ; Noufal PN, Muhammad Suhail, Suhail Bhat
Pakistan (5-3-2)
Yousef Butt (GK), Haris Ali Zeb, Abdullah Iqbal, Easah Suliman, Mohib Ullah, Abdul Rehman, M. Hayyaan Khattak, Alamgir Ghazi, Alamgir Ali Khan, Umar Nawaz, Kaleemullah Khan
Players to Watch Out For
Noufal PN (India)
Noufal PN has enjoyed a prolific start to the 2026-27 Indian Super League (ISL) season for Mumbai City and has been one of their shining stars in a difficult beginning. The tricky winger has already managed two assists in four appearances, proving himself a thorn for defenders with his expert work in the wide areas.
Now, Noufal looks to take that form to the international stage by being an expert threat for the Indian side at the SAFF Championship.
He will be geared up for a menacing performance against Pakistan, looking to be a nightmare for their defensive players. Noufal will look to use his tricky movement and dribbling prowess to dance his way past defenders.
However, heāll need to be particularly decisive with his accurate final third passes and also look to get into more goal-scoring positions to enhance the Blue Tigersā ability to get a big win over their rivals.
Umar Nawaz (Pakistan)
Umar Nawaz is one of the most promising talents in the current Pakistan squad, having spent many years honing his skills in England. Indeed, the teenager spent years training in the youth academy of teams like Wolves and Wrexham, allowing him to develop a good understanding of how to thrive under pressure.
Nawaz, currently playing for the Finnish club Kajaanin Haka, is aiming to be a decisive figure for Pakistan to help them achieve success in the SAFF Championship. The youngster will look to use his element of surprise to get the ball in the danger zones and be a thorn for the opposition defenders.
Heāll look to sneak his way into the open spaces in the final third but needs to be efficient with his finishing and chance creation to inspire his side to a positive result.
Did you know?
- India are the most successful team in the SAFF Championshipās history, having won it nine times.
- The last time that Pakistan defeated India in a senior international menās football match was in August 20 (2014).
- India have won seven of their nine matches against Pakistan in the SAFF Championship.
Telecast Details
The India vs Pakistan clash in the 2026 SAFF Championship will take place on Thursday, 5 November (2026) at the National Stadium, Dhaka (Bangladesh).
It will kick off at 3 PM IST. The match will be live-streamed on the VETO app.
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