Maldives Revives Women’s Football After 11-Year Hiatus with FAM League 2025

Male', Maldives: Women’s football has officially returned to the Maldives after more than a decade, with the launch of the FAM Women’s Football League 2025 marking a major milestone in reviving the women’s game nationwide. The last time the Maldives hosted an 11-a-side women’s football tournament was in 2014, making this year’s league a significant step forward for the sport. The initiative comes under the leadership of Ahmed Thariq (Tom), who was elected President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) in July. Thariq, a former National Football team forward, previously pledged to strengthen and elevate women’s football in the country, and the introduction of the new league demonstrates FAM’s renewed commitment to fulfilling that promise. Each participating club will receive MVR 100,000 in financial support, a grant made possible through FIFA’s continued assistance for women’s football development. Six teams are competing in the revived league, including Maziya Sports & Recreation, New Radiant Sports Club, and Victory Sports Club, with foreign players from Uzbekistan, Thailand, and Nepal adding international flair. The league has already generated significant excitement, signalling the long-awaited return of women’s domestic football enthusiasm in the Maldives. Odi Sports Club currently leads the standings, followed closely by Victory Sports Club, New Radiant, and Maziya, with all four teams level on points.