The men’s national football team is to resume practices in July.

While the AFC had postponed 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifications following the Covid-19 pandemic, it has since been scheduled for October this year.

The men’s football team is to begin training for these matches on July 4, with 32 players.

At a press conference held earlier this week, the team’s coach Martin Koopman said that the training sessions will be held in two groups.

While all sports activities and events have been halted following the Covid-19 pandemic, they have been allowed to resume in some of the outlying atolls. Malé City is still in phase two of lockdown easing, with public gatherings still prohibited.

However, Health Protection Agency (HPA) has decided to allow sports activities to recommence in July, under special guidelines established by the authority.

Football Association of Maldives (FAM)’s President, Bassam Adeel Jaleel assured confidence that the national team squad will be able to train together in August.

While training is to resume in July, the Maldivian team will face against China in the 2022 World Cup Asian Qualifiers on October 8. However, a venue is yet to be confirmed.

The team will play against the Syrian national team on October 13, while an away game against Philippines is scheduled for November 17.