Dhaka, Nov. 5 -- Defending champions India began their SAFF Championship 2026 campaign with a 3-2 victory over Pakistan in their Group B opener at the National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Thursday.

According to a press release by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Suhail Ahmad Bhat scored twice in the first half before Manglenthang Kipgen added a third to give India a commanding 3-0 lead at the break. Pakistan scored twice in stoppage time through Najeeb Ullah and Alamgir Ghazi, but the Blue Tigers held on to secure all three points.

India began cautiously, building patiently from the back and looking to establish control through the midfield, with Abhishek Suryavanshi operating in a deep role. Bhat thought he had opened the...