SAFF Cup Hotel Chaos Hits Pakistan, India in Dhaka

SAFF Cup hotel chaos overshadowed the final preparations for the 2026 championship in Dhaka, as Pakistan had its hotel changed before departure and India waited hours for rooms after landing.

The tournament kicks off on Thursday, November 5, at the National Stadium in Dhaka. Pakistan open their campaign against defending champions India, a fixture that now follows two days of accommodation confusion for both teams.

Pakistan, coached by Nolberto Solano, arrived in the Bangladesh capital in the early hours of Wednesday. The team travelled from Islamabad to Dhaka via Qatar, and a source told The Express Tribune that the squad’s hotel was changed before it left Pakistan.

“Yes, our hotel was changed, but it happened before the team’s departure,” the source said. The change spared Pakistan the wait India faced, but it still left the players settling in after a long journey with less than two days before the opener.

SAFF Cup hotel chaos: what happened in Dhaka

India landed in Dhaka at around 2:15 pm on Tuesday after a slight delay, according to reports cited by The Express Tribune. The team was directed to a private hotel on Gulshan Avenue, but on arrival the players found that no rooms had been allocated for them.

Indian players were still waiting for accommodation at 5 pm Indian Standard Time, the report said. A source told Indian media that other arrangements were being made and expressed hope the matter would be sorted soon. A later report confirmed that the Indian team had eventually secured accommodation in Dhaka.

The Express Tribune said it approached a senior SAFF official for comment but received no response. The silence has added to questions about coordination between the South Asian Football Federation, which organises the tournament, and the Bangladesh Football Federation, which provides logistical support.

Those questions are not new. The Daily Star reported on November 3 that officials could confirm hotels only for hosts Bangladesh and Bhutan, while training schedules and venues had still not been shared with the media.

Pakistan-India opener on Thursday

The main concern for Pakistan is how quickly the players can settle after the journey. Solano has kept the focus on the matches, and his message to the squad has been simple.

“We go step by step. We have a big game against India on Thursday, followed by Maldives. Our focus is on these two matches and qualifying for the semi-finals. We have to think of every game as a final. The first final is against India, and the second final is against Maldives,” Solano said.

He compared the fixture to the fiercest rivalry he knows from his own playing career. “Peru-Chile is just like Pakistan-India. It has the same intensity. I understand what these games mean to the fans. We want to please the people because we know what it means to them. These games are special, and that itself is motivation,” he said.

Pakistan and India are in Group B with Maldives. Hosts Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan make up Group A. The top two teams from each group reach the semi-finals on November 14, and the final takes place on November 17. Bhutan face Bangladesh in the second match on Thursday under floodlights.

India are the most successful team in the tournament’s history, with a record nine titles. Pakistan have never won the SAFF Cup, and their best finish remains third place in 1997.

What this means for Pakistan

For Pakistan, the hotel episode is a distraction the team could do without. The squad only assembled late, as covered in Shehzad Questions Late Camp for SAFF Cup, and preparation problems were flagged weeks earlier in Pakistan Face SAFF Preparation Crisis. Solano has set a semi-final target, as covered in Solano Targets SAFF Cup Semi-Finals.

The 28-man squad for Dhaka was announced only a day after most players had left, as covered in Pakistan Announce 28-Man SAFF Championship Squad. Several key players will only join if Pakistan reach the semi-finals, because their clubs withheld them outside the FIFA window.

India face a similar problem. Several clubs refused to release players for a match outside the FIFA window, so India travel with a reshuffled side under under-23 head coach Naushad Moosa. That makes Thursday’s opener less predictable than the rankings suggest.

Pakistan at least avoided the lobby wait. Their hotel change came before departure, so the players could check in on arrival in the early hours of Wednesday. India lost hours on Tuesday afternoon before alternative rooms were found.

Frequently asked questions

What happened with hotels at the SAFF Cup in Dhaka?

Pakistan’s hotel was changed before departure on Tuesday, and India waited hours for rooms after landing on Tuesday afternoon. India later secured accommodation, according to a subsequent report.

When do Pakistan play India at the SAFF Cup?

Pakistan face India on Thursday, November 5, at the National Stadium in Dhaka. The match kicks off at 3 pm Indian Standard Time.

Which group are Pakistan in?

Pakistan are in Group B with India and Maldives. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan are in Group A. The top two teams from each group reach the semi-finals on November 14.

Has Pakistan ever won the SAFF Cup?

No. Pakistan have never won the SAFF Cup. Their best finish was third place in 1997, while India have won the title a record nine times.

Did SAFF comment on the hotel problems?

The Express Tribune reported that it approached a senior SAFF official for comment but received no response.