Maldives to host SAFF U20 Championship
SAFF awards Maldives hosting rights for next year’s U20 tournament, marking country’s return to staging international football after years-long trust gap
MALÉ, Maldives (MNTV) — The Maldives will host next year’s SAFF U20 Championship, securing the return of a major international football tournament to the island nation after a four-year pause in regional trust and cooperation.
The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), which confirmed the decision, had previously withheld hosting rights from the Maldives due to unresolved dues linked to the 2021 SAFF Championship, according to statements from the Football Association of Maldives (FAM).
For years, the Maldives had been sidelined from SAFF’s tournament calendar after the non-payment of prize money and allowances owed to referees and match officials — a debt of $75,000 that drew criticism from several member states during a SAFF Congress.
As a result, age-group competitions were repeatedly allocated to other countries despite Maldives’ interest in hosting.
FAM says it has spent the past months rebuilding its relationship with SAFF, including settling the outstanding payments last month and engaging in sustained dialogue with regional officials.
The federation said discussions led by FAM President Ahmed Thoriq with SAFF Secretary General Purushottam Kattel in Riyadh last October were instrumental in restoring confidence.
With the hosting rights now confirmed, officials in Malé have described the upcoming tournament — scheduled for March 22 to April 3 — as a significant moment for Maldivian football. It will be the first SAFF youth event ever held in the country and the first international tournament hosted since the senior SAFF Championship in 2021.
FAM said the move reflects renewed trust from member nations and signals confidence in the Maldives’ ability to stage international competitions. The federation added that the event will create important pathways for young players across South Asia and pledged strong organizational preparation to meet regional expectations.
The SAFF U20 Championship will also mark the country’s first age-group tournament in six years; the last was the UEFA Assist U16 event hosted in Addu City in 2019.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
