Solano Targets SAFF Semi-Finals for Pakistan
Pakistan head coach Nolberto Solano has set a SAFF semi-final target for his team at the SAFF Championship 2026, ahead of a group opener against India on Thursday, 5 November.
Speaking at a press conference at a hotel in Islamabad on Monday evening, Solano said Pakistan would treat every match as a final. He named the India game and the following match against the Maldives as the two fixtures that will decide whether Pakistan reach the last four.
“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,” he said.
SAFF semi-final target built on unity
The SAFF semi-final target rests on collective play rather than individual stars, the coach said. He called for unity, discipline and defensive solidity, and he said Pakistan have what it takes to compete even without their overseas-based players.
Pakistan will be without those players during the opening phase, because the championship falls outside the FIFA international match window. Solano will therefore start the tournament with a squad built around domestic talent, and he refused to present that absence as an excuse. “At the start of this competition, we cannot include our diaspora players because it is not being held during a FIFA window. However, we are giving local players an opportunity and assessing the talent available here. There are no excuses. We believe in our players,” he said.
India first, then Maldives
Pakistan are in Group B with India and the Maldives, while Group A comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals.
The India fixture carries weight beyond the group table. Solano, a former Peru international, compared it with the rivalry between his home country and Chile.
“The rivalry between Peru and Chile is similar to that between Pakistan and India. It carries the same intensity. I understand very well how important these matches are for the fans. We want to make people happy because we know what these games mean to them,” he said.
India have announced a second-string side for the event, with their senior team travelling to New Zealand for friendlies in Auckland on 12 November and Christchurch on 15 November.
Pakistan will then face the Maldives in their second group match, with a positive result crucial to their hopes of reaching the semi-finals. Nepal is missing from the event for the first time, due to a suspension issue, according to the same report.
What Solano wants from his team
Solano said his first task is to make Pakistan hard to beat. “We first try to become a solid team. Our strategy is to avoid conceding goals because some of our strongest players belong to the defensive department,” he said.
Formation, he said, will depend on the players available and the nature of the opposition.
He pointed to recent experience as evidence that the approach can work. “Every match is always tough, as usual, and we are looking forward to the challenge. We are trying to build a strong team and I believe we are not far from achieving our goals. We have already achieved success in the Maldives, so we understand the level of competition. We have also played in Indonesia. We know what we need to do,” he said.
The Indonesia reference covers Pakistan’s recent FIFA ASEAN Cup campaign, where the team drew 2-2 with the Philippines and pushed Vietnam hard before a 4-2 defeat, after opening with a 4-0 loss to Thailand.
A league next year, and a structure for young players
Solano also welcomed the announcement of a professional football league in Pakistan next year, and he linked it directly to player fitness and standards.
“It is important for this generation of players to become physically fit and cover more ground. It is great news for us that Pakistan will have a professional league next year. Our current players have never had the opportunity to go through a pre-season. Pre-season training is extremely important for a player because it lays the foundation for the entire season. Hopefully, we will have this facility soon as well,” he said.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Solano’s target at the SAFF Championship?
Qualification for the semi-finals. He said Pakistan must treat the India match and the Maldives match as finals, because those two results will decide whether the team reaches the last four.
When does Pakistan play India?
Pakistan open their SAFF Championship 2026 campaign against India on Thursday, 5 November, and then face the Maldives in their second group match.
Who is in Pakistan’s group?
Pakistan are in Group B with India and the Maldives. Group A comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, and the top two teams from each group progress to the semi-finals.
Why are overseas-based players missing at the start?
The championship falls outside the FIFA international match window, so Pakistan will initially be without their diaspora-based players. Solano said the absence will not be used as an excuse, and local players will get their opportunity.
What did Solano say about a professional league?
He welcomed the announcement of a professional football league in Pakistan next year, saying it will help players become physically fit, cover more ground and benefit from pre-season training for the first time.
