India Land In Bangladesh To Accommodation Chaos Ahead Of SAFF Title Defence

Last Updated:November 03, 2026, 8:53 PM IST

India’s SAFF Championship campaign got off to a chaotic start as the team arrived in Dhaka without hotel accommodation.

Bijoy Varghese (Picture credit: AIFF)

The Indian men’s football team was left without accommodation upon landing in Bangladesh for the SAFF Championship on Tuesday, with their first match scheduled for Thursday against arch-rivals Pakistan, according to a report in Sports stars.

With at least four international games on the schedule this month, India have opted to field a second-string team for the SAFF Championship, a tournament they have won a record nine times.

The first-choice team, meanwhile, is all set to travel to New Zealand for two friendlies.

But the SAFF Championship team, led by Under-23 head coach Naushad Moosa, was further weakened as multiple clubs refused to release key footballers for the opening game, which falls outside the FIFA international window.

15 of the 28 team members trained in Kolkata on Monday, with three more joining the team before the contingent departed for Dhaka on Tuesday.

The team arrived in the Bangladesh capital at around 2:15 pm after a slight delay and was directed to a private hotel on Gulshan Avenue. But upon reaching the property, the contingent discovered that rooms hadn’t been booked for them.

As of 5 pm IST, the footballers were still without accommodation in the Bangladeshi capital.

“There have been other arrangements that are being made. We hope this will be sorted soon,” a source said while speaking to Sports stars.

India won the previous edition of the SAFF Championship, defeating Kuwait on penalties in Bengaluru. In the 2026 tournament, the defending champions have been drawn in Group B alongside Pakistan and the Maldives.

India will start their campaign against Pakistan at Dhaka’s National Stadium on Thursday, with kick-off scheduled for 3 pm IST.

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan make up the other group, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The tournament will conclude with the final on November 17.

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What issues did the Indian football team face upon arriving in Bangladesh for the SAFF Championship?

Upon arriving in Dhaka for the SAFF Championship, the Indian men’s football team contingent discovered that rooms had not been booked for them at their designated private hotel on Gulshan Avenue, leaving the players without accommodation for several hours.

Who is coaching the Indian team for the SAFF Championship, and why is the squad considered second-string?

The Indian squad is being led by Under-23 head coach Naushad Moosa. India opted to field a second-string team because the first-choice squad is traveling to New Zealand for two friendlies, and multiple clubs refused to release key players since the opening match falls outside the FIFA international window.

When and where is India playing its opening match of the SAFF Championship against Pakistan?

India will start their title defence campaign in Group B against arch-rivals Pakistan on Thursday at Dhaka’s National Stadium, with the kick-off scheduled for 3 pm IST.

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