Milo Academy Championship 2026 Finals Set for Friday in Hanimaadhoo

The Milo Academy Championship 2026, organised by the Soccer Veterans Association of Maldives and being held in HDh. Hanimaadhoo, has intensified, with the tournament now reaching preparations for its final matches. The finals are scheduled to be played on the evening of Friday, 13 November 2026. A total of 28 teams are competing in the tournament, drawn from the three atolls of Boduthiladhunmathi — HDh, HA and Sh — in addition to 15 academies from Malé. A total of 68 matches are scheduled to be played. The under-10 final is scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm tomorrow evening, while the under-12 final is scheduled to begin at 4:30 pm. A prize of MVR 10,000 along with a trophy and medal has been set for the champion team. In addition, the runner-up team will receive MVR 7,000 along with a trophy and medal, and the Soccer Veterans Association of Maldives said arrangements have also been made to give a participation medal to all players who took part in the tournament. The teams that travelled to Hanimaadhoo to compete were given a 'red carpet' welcome by the island's council together with institutions. A large number of the public are gathering at the ground area to watch the matches and support the various teams. The President of the Soccer Veterans Association of Maldives, Ali Shameem, said the tournament is being held to nurture the love of football in children's hearts at a young age and to find opportunities to show the children's skills to the public. He also noted that providing the opportunity to experience how tournaments are conducted when those children grow up and enter the sport is an important objective of the tournament. A special 'Gala Dinner Night' was also held in Hanimaadhoo last night with the objective of strengthening unity among the participants and strengthening the relationship between the academies. According to the association, the function, attended by teams from many islands, provided the opportunity to exchange gifts between the academies and to strengthen relations among the players. With many people from outside the island having visited for the tournament, the Soccer Veterans Association has expressed special thanks to the people of Hanimaadhoo and to all parties that assisted in organising and successfully conducting the tournament. The association also specially noted the valuable assistance given by the President of the Hanimaadhoo Council and Council member Rivfagu.