Maldives takes early exit from SAFF Championship following defeat to India

Maldives National Football Team has been eliminated from the SAFF Championship 2026, after being defeated 1-0 at the hands of India.

Maldives had been grouped with Pakistan and India in a single round-robin format of the Championship, taking place in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Maldives had lost 3-0 to Pakistan on Sunday.

Urbanyi had made four changes to the starting line-up today. Hussain Sifaau, Ahmed Aiham (Aihu), Nisham Mohamed Rasheed (Pogba), and Hassan Naiz were all called up.

A 38th-minute penalty kick by India’s Suhail Ahmad Bhat separated the two sides at half-time. Second-half substitutes Mohamed Naaim, Ethan Ibrahim Zaki, and Muzdhaan Hassan, and debutant Ali Hamdhaan all made an impact but not enough to make a comeback.

After a goalless second half, India earned the three points, as they go to the semifinals on top of the group alongside second-placed Pakistan.

In the three editions of SAFF Championship since Maldives lifted the trophy in 2018, the Red Snappers have been unable to make it past the group stage; Maldives have now lost two-thirds of the SAFF Championship games played in the last three editions.