Male' Maldives: FIFA President Gianni Infantino is set to visit the Maldives this Friday.
Although described as a official visit, Infantino is expected to meet senior government officials, the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) leadership, and representatives of local football clubs during his stay.
The trip comes as part of a wider series of visits he has been making across Asia in recent months.
"Honoured to announce that FIFA President Gianni Infantino will visit the Maldives on 24 October 2025, marking the first visit by a FIFA President in 19 years. This historic visit represents a significant milestone for Maldivian football, symbolizing renewed commitment and collaboration to further strengthen the game across the nation. The visit would accelerate football development in the Maldives and reinforce FIFA’s strong cooperation with the Football Association of Maldives." FAM President Thariq stated.
This will be the second visit by a sitting FIFA president to the Maldives. Former president Sepp Blatter visited in 2006, when FIFA donated USD 2 million to the Maldives’ tsunami recovery programme. I
Infantino, who previously maintained close ties with former FAM president Bassam Adeel Jaleel, now serving a four-year jail sentence for corruption, has since praised the current FAM leadership under Ahmed Thoriq (Tom). In a recent post, Infantino commended Tom and his team for their efforts to revive Maldivian football amid one of its most challenging periods.
Infantino, serving his third term as FIFA president, was first elected in 2015 and later re-elected twice without contest.
Before taking the top role at FIFA, he served in several senior positions at UEFA, including Director of Legal Affairs, Deputy Secretary General, and ultimately General Secretary, where he played a key role in reforming European football governance.
