The Indian men's football team faced an unexpected accommodation problem after arriving in Dhaka, Bangladesh, for the SAFF Championship 2026. The players and support staff reportedly had to wait for several hours after discovering that hotel rooms had not been booked for the travelling contingent.
The Indian team reached Dhaka on Tuesday, November 3, at approximately 2:15 pm Indian Standard Time. The players were taken to a private hotel on Gulshan Avenue, where they expected their accommodation arrangements to be ready. However, upon reaching the hotel, the team management reportedly discovered that no rooms had been reserved for the Indian contingent.
Players wait for several hours
According to reports originally carried by Sportstar, the Indian players and officials were left waiting while alternative accommodation arrangements were explored.
The situation reportedly remained unresolved until around 5 pm IST, meaning the team had to spend several hours without access to its designated hotel rooms.
A source quoted in the reports said that alternative arrangements were being considered and expressed hope that the issue would be resolved soon.
The incident created an unexpected disruption to the team's preparations, particularly because India were scheduled to face Pakistan in their opening match the following day.
Accommodation issue reportedly resolved
Subsequent media reports indicated that the accommodation problem was eventually addressed and hotel rooms were arranged for the Indian contingent.
According to reports published on November 4, the team had secured accommodation in Dhaka following the initial confusion.
The incident nevertheless raised questions about coordination between the tournament organisers and the local authorities responsible for arrangements for visiting teams. No detailed official explanation identifying who was responsible for the booking failure was available in the reports.
India prepare for Pakistan clash
India are entering the 2026 SAFF Championship as defending champions. Their opening fixture is against arch-rivals Pakistan at the National Stadium in Dhaka on November 5.
The match is scheduled to begin at 3 pm IST.
India have been placed in Group B alongside Pakistan and the Maldives. The team will subsequently face the Maldives in its second group-stage match, scheduled for November 11.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, while the tournament final is scheduled for November 17.
India send a second-string squad
India have opted to field a second-string squad for the tournament, with the senior national team preparing for two international friendly matches against New Zealand.
The SAFF squad is being guided by Under-23 head coach Naushad Moosa, with Bibiano Fernandes serving as his assistant.
The tournament is being played outside the FIFA international match window. As a result, several clubs reportedly declined to release some of their players for India's opening fixture, creating additional challenges for the coaching staff.
Reports also indicated that only 15 members of the 28-player squad participated in a training session in Kolkata before the team's departure, with other players joining later.
India aim to defend their title
Despite the off-field inconvenience, India will be looking to begin their title defence with a positive result against Pakistan.
India won the previous edition of the SAFF Championship in 2023, defeating Kuwait in the final through a penalty shootout in Bengaluru. The country has won the regional competition nine times.
The upcoming match against Pakistan is therefore an important opening test for the young Indian squad.
The hotel accommodation episode has added an unexpected development ahead of the tournament. With the issue reportedly resolved, the team's immediate focus will be on preparing for its opening match and beginning its campaign successfully.
