• Umar optimistic of team’s upward trajectory 

The Maldives men’s national football team is scheduled to undertake a tour of Sri Lanka in September this year to play in two FIFA Friendlies, Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) President Jaswer Umar, told The Daily Morning Sports.

He said that the Maldives who are currently placed 171st in FIFA World Rankings, have consented to play in two internationals against Sujan Perera’s team, from 1-9 September at the Racecourse Grounds at Reid Avenue in Colombo.

According to the FFSL head, Sri Lanka had managed to invite the Maldivians to feature in the two FIFA Friendlies, after attempts made by the game’s local governing body, to organise the three-nation (Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan) South Asian Super Cup tournament with Bhutan, had failed to materialise.

He stated that the said tournament had failed to get off the ground due to their failure to get Bhutan to participate. 

Maldives who had initially obtained football knowhow from the island-nation back in the 1980s, have progressed steadily in international football since then, and they are currently placed 25 spots above Sri Lanka in FIFA World Rankings.

Umar added that the upcoming fixtures against Maldives, will provide Sri Lanka with much-needed practice ahead of the 2027 Asian Qualifiers, where the Lankans are slated to confront the likes of Turkmenistan, Thailand and Chinese Taipei, from October this year up to March 2026.

‘’The two FIFA Friendlies lined up against Maldives, will be a big boost for our prospects in the AFC Asian Qualifiers, which are due to come around in late 2025 and in early 2026,’’ he said.

‘’Currently our players are playing in various Leagues in the region, and they will regroup in late August under our national coach Abdullah Al Mutairi, to prepare for the upcoming assignments. I am optimistic that our team will give a good account of themselves, not only against Maldives, but also in the AFC Qualifiers as well,’’ he pointed out.

Sri Lanka last played Maldives in Male in June two years ago, when the latter got the better of the former (1-0), during the qualifying round of the Asia Cup.  

Sri Lanka have so far won two out of four internationals played this year, seeing off Brunei (1-0) and Chinese Taipei (3-1), but losing to Laos (1-2) and Thailand (0-1).