The Maldives have been crowned champions of the inaugural SAFF Futsal Championship, delivering a commanding and consistent performance to secure the title of South Asian futsal champions. The national team lifted the trophy at a special awards ceremony held after the conclusion of the tournament’s final match, marking a historic achievement for Maldivian futsal and reinforcing the nation’s growing stature in regional sports.
Throughout the competition, the Maldives demonstrated clear dominance by winning every match they played, completing the tournament with a perfect record and securing the championship with a match still to spare. The campaign began with an emphatic 7–1 victory over Pakistan, followed by a convincing 6–1 win against Bangladesh. The team continued their strong form with a comprehensive 5–0 triumph over India before edging Nepal 2–1 in a tightly contested encounter that highlighted both resilience and tactical discipline.
The championship was effectively sealed following a strong performance against Bhutan, where the Maldives overcame early pressure to register a decisive victory. In the final match of the tournament, the Maldives closed their campaign in style with a 5–2 win over Sri Lanka, underlining their superiority and concluding the competition with a flawless winning record. Across the tournament, the Maldives recorded the highest number of goals scored while conceding the fewest, allowing only six goals in total, a reflection of their balanced strength in both attack and defense.
Team captain Mohamed Imran emerged as the tournament’s top scorer with nine goals, playing a pivotal role in the Maldives’ success and leading by example on the court. The Maldives’ consistency and efficiency set them apart from their regional rivals, with India finishing second overall, Nepal in third place, Pakistan fourth, Bangladesh fifth, and Sri Lanka and Bhutan completing the standings.
As the first-ever SAFF Futsal Championship, the tournament holds special significance, and the Maldives’ title victory ensures their place at the forefront of South Asian futsal history. The team is scheduled to return to the Maldives tomorrow evening, with their arrival at Velana International Airport expected at 7:45pm, where senior officials from the Ministry of Sports will formally receive the players.
National celebrations have been organized to honor the team’s achievement, with a public event planned at the Artificial Beach starting at 10:00pm. The celebrations will include a victory procession allowing the public to greet the players, followed by a formal ceremony attended by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. During the event, the trophy will be presented to the President, a group photo will be taken with the players and officials, and the President will address the nation before the ceremony concludes with the National Anthem and a fireworks display.
In recognition of this achievement, President Muizzu has announced that the National Futsal Team will be awarded MVR 1 million in prize money. The award also acknowledges the recent success of the National Football Team in the South Asian Super Cup held in Sri Lanka in September 2025, reflecting the Maldives’ broader progress and ambition in regional football and futsal.
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