India dominates the SAFF Championship head-to-head against Pakistan. The SAFF Championship, South Asia’s premier international football tournament, has run since 1993, when it was called the SAARC Gold Cup.
These two neighbours have met 9 times in SAFF history, producing moments of drama, a famous Pakistani upset in 2003, and a string of commanding Indian victories.
This article covers the full head-to-head record, year-wise match results, key moments, top players, and the current state of this rivalry.
India vs Pakistan SAFF Championship Head-to-Head (Quick Summary)
Here is the all-time SAFF Championship snapshot between the two sides.
| Matches Played | 9 |
|---|---|
| India Wins | 7 |
| Pakistan Wins | 1 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Goals (India) | 17 |
| Goals (Pakistan) | 5 |
India’s win rate of 77.8% in SAFF fixtures against Pakistan makes this one of the most one-sided regional rivalries in South Asian football.
Pakistan’s only win remains the 2003 group stage upset, which still stands as their sole SAFF victory over India.
India vs Pakistan Head-to-Head in SAFF Championship History (Match Results)
Every meeting between these two sides has carried weight. Here is the complete year-wise record across all nine fixtures.
| Year | Stage | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Group A | India 4–0 Pakistan | Bengaluru |
| 2018 | Semifinal | India 3–1 Pakistan | Dhaka |
| 2013 | Group A | India 1–0 Pakistan | Kathmandu |
| 2008 | Group A | India 2–1 Pakistan | Malé |
| 2003 | Third Place Play-Off | India 2–1 AET Pakistan | Dhaka |
| 2003 | Group A | Pakistan 1–0 India | Dhaka |
| 1999 | Group A | India 2–0 Pakistan | Margao, Goa |
| 1997 | Semifinal | India 2–0 Pakistan | Kathmandu |
| 1993 | Group 1A | India 1–1 Pakistan | Lahore |
Source: Transfermarket
Pakistan did not participate in the 2021 SAFF Championship due to a FIFA suspension imposed in April 2021, which was lifted in June 2022.
Across all nine SAFF meetings, India has held the upper hand in every era except one group stage match in 2003.
Who Has Won More India vs Pakistan Football Matches in SAFF Championship?
India has won 7 of 9 SAFF meetings, giving them a 77.8% win rate. Their only loss came in the 2003 group stage, when Pakistan recorded a shock 1-0 victory.
Notably, India came back in the same tournament to beat Pakistan 2-1 after extra time in the Third Place Play-Off. Since that group loss in 2003, India has gone on a five-match unbeaten run, winning all five.
Pakistan has never beaten India in a SAFF knockout match.
India vs Pakistan Football Key Matches and Memorable Moments (SAFF)
Here are the fixtures that defined this rivalry.
Historic India vs Pakistan SAFF Matches
- 1993 SAARC Cup (Lahore): The first-ever SAFF meeting between the two nations ended 1-1. IM Vijayan scored for India, while Muhammad Nauman Khan equalised for Pakistan. This remains the only draw in their SAFF head-to-head history.
- 2003 SAFF Championship (Dhaka): Pakistan’s finest moment in this fixture. They stunned India 1-0 in the group stage, recording their only SAFF victory against the Blue Tigers. India then bounced back in the same edition, beating Pakistan 2-1 after extra time in the Third Place Play-Off.
- 2018 SAFF Semifinal (Dhaka): India delivered in the knockout stage. Manvir Singh scored twice, Sumeet Passi added a third, and India won 3-1 to reach the final. Pakistan’s Mohammed Ali scored a late consolation, but it changed nothing.
- 2023 SAFF Championship (Bengaluru): India’s largest-ever SAFF win over Pakistan. Sunil Chhetri scored a hat-trick in the 10th, 16th, and 73rd minutes, with Udanta Singh adding a fourth. India won 4-0 in front of a packed Sree Kanteerava Stadium.
Top Players in India vs Pakistan SAFF Matches
- Sunil Chhetri is the standout player in this fixture. He scored a hat-trick in 2023 and became only the third Indian to achieve that against Pakistan, after Puran Bahadur and IM Vijayan.
- IM Vijayan scored in the first-ever meeting in 1993 and set the tone for Indian dominance across early editions.
- Manvir Singh delivered a two-goal semifinal performance in 2018 when the pressure was at its highest.
- On Pakistan’s side, Mohammed Ali scored a consolation in the 2018 semifinal, and Kaleemullah Khan has been their most notable forward in recent campaigns.
- Pakistan’s Muhammed Sufyan came closest to scoring in the 2023 fixture, showing the attacking intent that rarely found the net against India.
These players made the fixture personal. Chhetri, most of all, turned this matchup into his own stage.
India vs Pakistan Football Recent Results and Current Form (2026)
Both sides currently sit at very different points in their development cycles. The gap between them has only grown since 2021.
- Latest SAFF senior men’s meeting: India 4-0 Pakistan, June 21, 2023, SAFF Championship Group A, Bengaluru. India’s biggest-ever SAFF win over Pakistan.
- Pakistan’s SAFF absence: Pakistan missed the 2021 SAFF Championship due to a FIFA suspension, reducing their competitive exposure at the regional level.
- Current team performance: India reached the 2023 SAFF Championship final and won the title for the ninth time. Pakistan has not won a SAFF title or reached a SAFF final.
- FIFA Rankings (January 2026): India ranks 141st globally. Pakistan ranks 199th. The 58-place gap between the two teams reflects the sporting distance that has grown since 2003.
- Most recent encounter (any level): India U-20 beat Pakistan U-20 3-0 in the SAFF U20 Championship 2026 on March 26, 2026, in the Maldives. The pattern holds at every age group.
At the senior level, no new SAFF Championship is scheduled for 2026. The next edition will determine if this rivalry produces any new chapters.
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Conclusion: India leads The India vs Pakistan SAFF Championship With 7 Wins From 9
India’s SAFF Championship record against Pakistan reads 7 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw across 9 meetings. The 2003 group stage loss is Pakistan’s only highlight in this fixture, and India won the third-place match in the same tournament.
Since then, India has won every SAFF meeting. Sunil Chhetri’s 2023 hat-trick and the 3-1 semifinal win in 2018 mark the peak of India’s dominance.
With a 58-place FIFA ranking gap in 2026, India remains the clear leader of this South Asian footballing rivalry.
FAQs
India leads the all-time SAFF Championship head-to-head with 7 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw across 9 total meetings. India scored 17 goals, Pakistan scored 5.
India has won the SAFF Championship 9 times, in 1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2021, and 2023, making them the most successful nation in the tournament’s history.
The Champions Trophy is a cricket tournament. India and Pakistan share a 3-3 record across 6 meetings in ICC Champions Trophy history, with India’s most recent win coming by 6 wickets in the 2025 edition.
India has won 7 of their 9 SAFF Championship meetings against Pakistan. Pakistan’s only win came in the 2003 group stage, and they have never beaten India in any SAFF knockout match.
