Maldives set for thrilling Pakistan opener as SAFF Futsal debuts this January
The Maldives National Men's Futsal Team kicks off their historic SAFF Futsal Championship 2026 campaign against Pakistan on January 14 in Thailand's first-ever regional futsal tournament. With six intense group matches lined up against South Asian rivals in a round-robin format, the team will battle for championship glory at Bangkok's Nonthaburi Stadium through January 26.
National Futsal team of Maldives, who participated in 2025 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers
The Maldives National Men’s Futsal Team is set to face Pakistan in their opening match of the SAFF Futsal Championship 2026, which will be held in Thailand this coming January.
The inaugural futsal tournament for both men’s and women’s teams from South Asia is scheduled to take place in Thailand from January 13 – 26, marking the first-ever futsal competition organized by the South Asian Football Federation for countries in the region.
According to the tournament schedule released by SAFF on Wednesday, the Maldives’ first match is slated for January 14. Their second match will be against Bangladesh on January 16, followed by their third group-stage match against India on January 20. The fourth match for the Maldives is scheduled for January 22 against Nepal, with Bhutan set as their opponent on January 24. The team’s final group-stage match will be played against neighboring Sri Lanka on January 26.
The tournament will follow a round-robin format, with every team playing each other once. The team that accumulates the most points will be crowned champion. All matches are scheduled to take place at Nonthaburi Stadium in Bangkok from January 14 to 26.
The Maldives National Futsal Team last competed in an international tournament at the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers held in Myanmar in September 2025. After a less-than-ideal performance in that competition, the team is now working hard to deliver a stronger showing and secure a better result in the upcoming championship.
The Maldives Women’s Futsal Team will also participate in the women’s division of the tournament, marking a historic moment as the SAFF Futsal Championship 2026 will be the first time a Maldivian national women’s futsal team competes in an international tournament. In the women’s division, the Maldives will play their first match against India on January 13, followed by Nepal on January 15 and Pakistan on January 17. They will then face Bhutan on January 21, Sri Lanka on January 23, and will conclude their group-stage run against Bangladesh on January 25.
While the Maldives women’s team is not yet ranked in the FIFA Futsal World Rankings, the men’s team is currently ranked 106th.
