The Maldives national women’s football team is set to compete in one of its most significant international tournaments to date as they gear up for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers. Set to take place in June and July of next year, the group stage will see Maldives in Group E alongside Vietnam, Guam, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This marks a pivotal moment for women’s football in the Maldives as the team strives to secure their place on Asia’s biggest stage in the upcoming championship to be hosted in Australia.
According to the official schedule, the Maldives will play their opening match against host nation Vietnam on June 19, followed by matches against Guam on July 2 and the UAE on July 5. All fixtures in Group E will be hosted in Vietnam, offering a challenging yet promising platform for the Maldives squad to test their skills against seasoned regional opponents.
Vietnam, a dominant force in Asian women’s football, has a long-standing history in the tournament with appearances dating back to 1999. They also made headlines in 2023 when they qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time. The Maldives last faced Vietnam during the 2021 qualifiers, where the Southeast Asian team delivered a staggering 16-0 win, Vietnam’s most decisive victory in the tournament’s history.
Meanwhile, Guam brings experience from their participation in the 2023 edition, while the UAE, like the Maldives, are still aiming for their debut appearance in the Asian Cup. In previous encounters, the Maldives has played a total of seven friendly matches against the UAE. Notably, the teams last met in 2019, with two of the matches ending in draws and one win recorded by the Maldives in 2016, showcasing the potential for a competitive rematch.
In recent years, the Maldives has faced tough competition. Their last qualifying campaign saw two heavy defeats against India, but the team remains focused and determined. The national side’s last victory came in 2022, when they defeated Seychelles 1-0 in a friendly fixture, an encouraging sign that progress is underway.
As the team prepares to represent the Maldives on the continental stage, this journey not only highlights the rising ambition of Maldivian women’s football but also reflects the broader development of sports in the island nation. With the Maldives increasingly recognized as a tropical paradise for tourists, this international sporting event serves as a reminder of the country’s growing presence in global arenas beyond its turquoise waters and luxury resorts.
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