Bangladesh play Pakistan in the semi-final of the 2026 SAFF Championship on Saturday 14 November at the National Stadium in Dhaka. Kick-off is at 8:30 pm Bangladesh time. The winner meets India or Bhutan in the final on Tuesday 17 November. This guide covers how Bangladesh got here, what to watch in the match and how to follow it.

How Bangladesh reached the last four

Bangladesh were placed in Group A with Bhutan and Sri Lanka. The opening game against Bhutan on 5 November was tight, and a 69th-minute goal from Ibrahim gave the hosts a 1-0 win. A 2-2 draw between Sri Lanka and Bhutan then confirmed Bangladesh's place in the semi-finals before their last group game.

That final group match, on 11 November, was the team's best display of the tournament. Shamit Shome scored early, Hamza Choudhury added a second before half-time, Farhaan Ali Wahid made it three and Rakib Hossain finished a 4-0 win. Bangladesh topped the group with six points, five goals scored and none conceded. Full results, tables and the remaining fixtures are on this SAFF Championship 2026 schedule and points table.

Pakistan's route

In Group B, India beat Pakistan 3-2 and then the Maldives 1-0 to finish first. Pakistan beat the Maldives 3-0 to take second place, with striker Najeeb Ullah Khan scoring twice in that game. He shares the lead in the scoring chart with three goals. Pakistan also scored twice in stoppage time against India, a sign that they keep pushing until the final whistle.

What to watch on Saturday

Bangladesh's defence. Two clean sheets have been the base of the campaign. Keeping Najeeb Ullah Khan quiet will be the key task for the back line.
The midfield pairing. Hamza Choudhury and Shamit Shome control the tempo. If they win the second balls, Bangladesh can keep Pakistan pinned back.
Concentration late on. Pakistan's late goals against India show why Bangladesh cannot relax, even with a lead.
Home support. More than 18,000 fans watched the Sri Lanka match. A full stadium on Saturday could make a real difference.

Players to watch

For Bangladesh, Hamza Choudhury is the obvious name. The midfielder, who plays his club football in England, brings calm on the ball and scored in the win over Sri Lanka. Shamit Shome is his ideal partner: he links defence to attack and has already scored in this tournament. Up front, Rakib Hossain offers pace and work rate, and he showed his finishing with the fourth goal against Sri Lanka.

For Pakistan, everything starts with Najeeb Ullah Khan. He is strong in the air, moves well in the box and has three goals already. Bangladesh's centre-backs will need to stay close to him and stop crosses at the source. If Bangladesh can limit his service, Pakistan will have to find goals from somewhere else, and that is a much harder task.

History between the teams

The last senior meeting came at the 2018 SAFF Championship in Dhaka, when Topu Barman's goal gave Bangladesh a 1-0 win. Bangladesh's only SAFF title so far came in 2003, also in Dhaka. Line-ups, team news and broadcast details are collected in this Bangladesh vs Pakistan semi-final preview.

Semi-final and final schedule (Bangladesh time)

India vs Bhutan: Sat 14 Nov, 3:00 pm
Bangladesh vs Pakistan: Sat 14 Nov, 8:30 pm
Final: Tue 17 Nov, 8:00 pm

How to watch

In Bangladesh the tournament is shown on T Sports, with online streaming on Bongo BD and Toffee. Use the official apps rather than unknown links, which are often delayed and can be unsafe for your phone.

Final thoughts

Two wins, five goals and two clean sheets have taken Bangladesh into a home semi-final. Pakistan bring a dangerous striker and a never-give-up attitude, so this will not be easy. But with a settled midfield, a solid defence and a big crowd behind them, Bangladesh have a genuine chance to reach the final and go after a second SAFF title, more than two decades after the first.

Bangladesh vs Pakistan: A Fan's Guide to the SAFF Semi-Final 2026