Malé, Maldives: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has pledged continued support for the development of football across the Maldives, highlighting FIFA’s contribution to the upcoming Atoll Championship (Atolls Regional League 2025/26) during his first official visit to the country.

During meetings with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and Football Association of Maldives (FAM) officials, Infantino reaffirmed FIFA’s commitment to nurturing grassroots and regional football through the FIFA Forward programme, which will provide USD 266,000 towards the revamped league.

The initiative will feature 49 teams from different atolls, with matches played across 18 island venues, and champions from each region advancing to the Dhivehi Premier League (DPL) qualifiers, the top tier of Maldivian football.

President Muizzu expressed his administration’s dedication to advancing the sport nationwide, citing plans to improve football infrastructure across the islands.

“Football is the number one sport in the country. We all love the game and want to see our children on the world stage,” he said, thanking FIFA for its support.

Infantino praised the Maldives’ passion for football and pledged that FIFA would continue to help develop facilities, school programmes, and competitions throughout the islands. “This is a real football country,” he said. “Our duty is to nurture that passion and bring football to every school and every atoll.”

The visit also featured a football festival attended by local legends and Italian World Cup winner Marco Materazzi, celebrating the Maldives’ growing football culture.

Both FIFA and FAM reaffirmed their shared commitment to expanding the game’s reach, including plans for the first-ever National Women’s League, supported under FIFA Forward 3.0.