Maldives vs Pakistan, TECNO SAFF, 2026, Today Match Prediction
Maldives
Pakistan
Can Pakistan Break Their SAFF Championship Jinx Against Maldives?
- Maldives are on a five-match losing streak.
- Pakistan are winless in their last four matches and have lost three of them.
- Maldives haven't scored a goal in their last three matches.
We predict draw (2-2).
| Tournament: | TECNO SAFF, 2026 |
| Venue: | National Stadium, Dhaka |
Maldives vs Pakistan Match Prediction & Analysis
The 15th edition of the SAFF Championship has got off to an entertaining start, with the opening two double-headers producing plenty of goals. Attention now turns to the second round of fixtures, with Pakistan among the teams back in action. As was the case on the opening day, the weekend will feature another double-header, beginning with Pakistan taking on the Maldives.
Having already suffered defeat in their opening game, Pakistan face an early must-win situation, while the Maldives will make their tournament debut, hoping to maintain their unbeaten record against Pakistan in the competition.
Head-to-Head Record: In the four matches played between the teams in the SAFF Championship, the Maldives have remained unbeaten with two wins and two draws.
Teams Preview
Maldives Preview
The Maldives open their campaign on Sunday with the advantage of having already watched both their Group B opponents in action on the opening day. Two-time champions, having lifted the trophy in 2008 and 2018, the Red Snappers will be eager to rediscover the form that once made them one of the region's most competitive sides.
They will also draw confidence from their 2018 triumph, which incidentally came in Bangladesh. However, their recent form offers little encouragement. Ranked 173rd in the FIFA rankings, the Maldives have lost their last five International friendlies, including heavy defeats to China (3-0), Kyrgyzstan (5-0) and Lebanon (6-0).
Their last victory came against Timor-Leste in March, and they will need a significant improvement to make a strong start and avoid another group-stage exit, having failed to progress in the 2023 edition.
Hungarian head coach István Urbányi will be tasked with guiding the side through the tournament with a 23-member squad that blends experienced internationals with fresh faces. Captain Ali Samooh, who will be expected to marshal the defence, and Ali Fasir, one of the most experienced and prolific forwards in Maldivian football, will be among the key players to watch.
Their experience could prove crucial as the Red Snappers look to get their campaign off to a positive start.
Maldives Probable Starting Lineup
Hussain Shareef (GK); Hussain Sifaau Yoosuf, Samooh Ali, Amdhan Ali, Ahmed Maish Rasheed, Ibrahim Aisam, Ibrahim Waheed Hassan, Ahmed Aiham, Ali Fasir, Naiz Hassan, Ibrahim Mahudhee Hussain
Pakistan Preview
Pakistan head into their second Group B fixture against the Maldives knowing that another setback could seriously dent their hopes of reaching the semi-finals. The Green Shirts began their campaign with a narrow 3-2 defeat to arch-rivals India, despite scoring twice in stoppage time to make the closing stages interesting.
However, the damage had already been done in the first half, when they conceded three goals in just 31 minutes. Shayak Dost's missed first-half penalty also proved costly, denying Pakistan an opportunity to get back into the contest earlier.
For head coach Nolberto Solano, the biggest concern heading into this must-win encounter will be his side's defensive frailties, having now conceded 13 goals in their last four matches. Pakistan will need to be considerably more disciplined at the back on Sunday if they are to stand any chance of overcoming the Maldives and keeping their semi-final hopes alive.
Pakistan 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.
MALDIVES vs PAKISTAN
Winning PredictionThere is little to separate the two sides based on their recent form, although Pakistan hold a slight edge having beaten the Maldives 3-0 in a friendly earlier this year. The Maldives, however, have the upper hand in their SAFF Championship head-to-head record.
While this makes the fixture difficult to call, the pressure is firmly on Pakistan, who cannot afford another setback. They can at least take confidence from scoring twice against a strong Indian side in their opener. We expect a closely contested encounter and, weighing up the form and statistics, are backing a stalemate.
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