India beat Bhutan 2-1 to enter SAFF Championship final

Defending champions India secured their place in the SAFF Championship final after defeating Bhutan 2-1 in Dhaka on November 14, 2026. P.V. Vishnu opened the scoring for India in the eighth minute, and Chinglensana Singh extended the lead in the 27th minute following a corner kick.

Bhutan responded in the 48th minute when Tobden scored a header, a goal confirmed after a VAR review overturned an initial offside call. This match marked the first use of VAR in the tournament's history. India, represented by an U-23 reserve squad coached by Naushad Moosa while the senior team plays friendlies in New Zealand, will now face either Bangladesh or Pakistan in the final on November 17.

The victory follows India's earlier success in the tournament, including a win against Pakistan where Suhail Ahmad Bhat and Manglenthang Kipgen scored.