
India Defeats Pakistan 3-2 in Opening Match of SAFF Championships 2026
What Happened?
In Dhaka, India secured a 3-2 victory over Pakistan in their first match of the 2026 SAFF Championships. The Blue Tigers led 3-0 before conceding two late goals.
Key points
- India's football team, led by interim coach Naushad Moosa, started strong with a 3-0 lead at halftime.
- Suhaul Ahmed Bhatt scored two goals in the 14th and 20th minutes.
- Manglenthang Kipgen added a third goal in the 32nd minute.
- Pakistan scored two consolation goals in stoppage time through Najeeb Ullah and Alamgir Ghazi.
- India aims for its 10th SAFF Championship title, having won nine previously.
Key insights
- India's victory sets a positive tone for their campaign in the SAFF Championships.
- The absence of key players due to international commitments may impact future matches.
- Pakistan's late goals could indicate vulnerabilities in India's defense.
Why it matters
This victory boosts India's chances of advancing in the tournament.
Entities
Source
Times Now

