India vs Maldives, TECNO SAFF, 2026, Today Match Prediction
India
Maldives
Confident India Take On Under-Pressure Maldives
- Maldives have gone goalless in their last six games.
- Maldives have conceded at least three goals in five of their last six games.
- India have conceded at least a goal in five of their last six games.
India to win (3-0).
| Tournament: | TECNO SAFF, 2026 |
| Venue: | National Stadium, Dhaka |
India vs Maldives Match Prediction & Analysis
For the second consecutive match, India will take the field in the afternoon as they prepare to face Maldives in the SAAF Championship. Maldives arrive under pressure after suffering defeat in their opening encounter, making this a must-win game for them.
India, meanwhile, are in a much more comfortable position, knowing that even a draw would be enough to secure their place in the semi-finals following their opening-day victory over arch-rivals Pakistan.
Current Standings: Having played just one and won it, India are currently second in Group B, while Maldives are in the last position with no points.
Head-to-Head Record: India and Maldives have faced off in 14 matches in the SAFF Championship, with India winning 10 to Maldives’ three, alongside one draw.
Teams Preview
India Preview
India head into their second Group B fixture against the Maldives knowing that a draw would be enough to secure their semi-final berth. The defending champions began their campaign with a thrilling 3-2 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan, although the manner of the win would have raised a few concerns.
Despite racing into a three-goal lead inside 31 minutes, India allowed Pakistan to score twice in stoppage time, making the closing stages unnecessarily tense. Nevertheless, India were largely dominant for the majority of the contest, with Suhail Ahmed Bhat scoring twice and debutant Manglenthang Kipgen adding the third. Kipgen was particularly impressive, creating six chances to cap an eye-catching debut.
Meanwhile, India have been forced into several changes to their squad ahead of the Maldives encounter. Bijoy Varghese, Muhammad Suhail and Liston Colaco have joined the senior setup for the international friendlies against New Zealand, while midfielder Suresh Singh Wangjam has been ruled out due to an injury sustained in the ISL.
Hmingthanmawia Ralte (Valpuia), Farukh Choudhary and Noufal PN have also been asked to return to their club, Mumbai City FC. This leaves head coach Naushad Moosa with the task of reshuffling his options and finding the right combination to get the job done against the Maldives.
India Probable Starting Lineup
Arsh Anwer Shaikh (GK); Abdul Rabeeh, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Muhammed Uvais, Nathan Rodrigues, Ricky John Shabong, Nikhil Prabhu, Abhishek Suryavanshi, Brison Fernandes, Manglenthang Kipgen, Suhail Ahmad Bhat.
Maldives Preview
Maldives head into their second Group B fixture against defending champions India knowing that anything less than a victory could spell the end of their semi-final hopes. The Islanders began their campaign with a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Pakistan, leaving themselves with little room for error.
Their afternoon quickly unravelled as they conceded three times in the first half, effectively putting the contest beyond their reach. Maldives struggled to offer much of a response, managing just seven shots, with only one finding the target.
Worryingly, their lack of attacking threat has been a recurring issue, with the Islanders failing to score in their last six matches across competitions. Their defensive record is equally concerning, having conceded 21 goals during that period. Given their poor run of form, Maldives face a daunting task against India in what is effectively a must-win encounter.
Maldives Probable Starting Lineup
Yousuf Butt (GK); Zeb, Raza, Mohib Ullah, Haseeb Khan, Abdul Rehman, A. U. Mahmood, M. H. Khattak, Alamgir Ghazi, Shayak Dost, Waqar Ihtisham.
INDIA vs MALDIVES
Winning PredictionIndia will undoubtedly head into this fixture as firm favourites, especially with far less pressure to deliver a result compared to their opponents. The Blue Tigers can also draw confidence from their impressive record against the Maldives, having won eight of their last 10 meetings.
The Islanders, meanwhile, arrive on the back of six consecutive defeats without scoring a single goal. Given the contrasting form and quality of the two sides, it is difficult to see past an Indian victory.
Likewise, the bookmakers are backing an Indian win, with one of the sites backing India at odds of 1.22 to Maldives’ 8.50, while a draw priced at 6.25.
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