Pakistan will reignite its long-standing football rivalry with India after both teams were drawn together in Group B of the SAFF Championship 2026 during the tournament draw held on Saturday at the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Congress in Thimphu, Bhutan.

The championship will take place in Bangladesh from November 4 to November 17, with Group B featuring Pakistan, India, and the Maldives. Group A includes hosts Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan as teams compete for the regional football title.

More than 100 words into the tournament announcement, the SAFF Championship promises another high-profile encounter between Pakistan and India, marking their first senior international meeting since the 2023 edition. India won that previous contest 4-0, but Pakistan heads into this year’s tournament with renewed confidence following recent improvements under head coach Nolberto Solano.

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Pakistan, popularly known as the Shaheens, recently captured the Diamond Jubilee International Tournament title in the Maldives, securing a memorable 3-0 victory over the hosts in the final. Umer Nawaz, Abdul Samad, and Harun Hamid scored the goals that sealed the historic triumph and boosted the team’s preparations for the regional championship.

Before travelling to Bangladesh, Solano’s squad will participate in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup during September and October, providing valuable international experience ahead of the SAFF Championship.

The tournament draw was held during the SAFF Congress in Bhutan, where Kazi Salahuddin was re-elected unopposed as president of the South Asian Football Federation for another term.

With Pakistan’s recent progress and India aiming to defend its regional dominance, their Group B showdown is expected to be one of the marquee fixtures of the 2026 SAFF Championship.