Bangladesh has beaten India 4-3 in a penalty shootout and have claimed the 2026 SAFF U-20 Championship.

This is the first time a final in the U-20 Championship has reached the penalty stage.

Bangladesh were the defending champions of the SAFF U-20 Championship. They won the 2024 championship after beating Nepal in the finals, after having beaten India in the semi-finals via a penalty shootout. The score was 1-1 at full time, with India having missed two of their penalties, ending the game at 4-3.

Even though the championship was held in Maldives, supporters of Bangladesh filled up the Galolhu Stadium to watch their team play.

No goals were scored in the final match but many attempts were made from both sides.

India kicked off the penalty shootout, with Rishi Singh's attempt being defended by Bangladesh's goalkeeper Mohamed Ismail Hossain Mahin. India's subsequent attempts were successful, scored by Mohamed Arbash, Ahongshangbam Samson and Vishal Yadav. 

Bangladesh's Mohamed Mursed Ali, Chandon Roy and Mohamed Abdul Riyad Fahim scored the first three penalties by aiming at the bottom left corner of the goalkeeper.

When Bangladesh's Samuel Raksam stepped up to take his penalty, India's goalkeeper and captain Suraj Singh Aheibam experienced leg pain and required treatment. After he was treated, Raksam took his shot at the top right corner, which ended up connecting with the goal post.

The penalty taken by India's Omang Dodum was shot too high from the goal. Bangladesh won when Ronan Benjamin Sullivan successfully scored with a panenka penalty.