The senior Maldives National Football Team has decided to play an international friendly match against neighboring India.

Football Association of Maldives (FAM)’s General Secretary Nahil Siddeeq told RaajjeMV that they have decided to play a match against the neighboring country. Nahil said the match is slated for March 2025. While the exact date of the match has not been finalized yet, Nahil said they are working to play the match on either March 19 or 20.

The senior national team last played an international match in November 2024. In the first friendly match against Bangladesh, Maldives won 1 – 0. However, in the second match played that time round, Maldives lost to Bangladesh 2 – 1.

The friendly match against India is being played in preparation for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers slated for March 2025. In the first match of the qualifiers on March 25, Maldives will face the Philippines. Maldives will then play against Timor-Leste and Tajikistan in the qualifiers.

Maldives has played against India on several occasions before as well.