FIFA President Gianni Infantino and President Muizzu to participate in football match tomorrow evening

FIFA President Gianni Infantino will arrive in Maldives on Friday for an official visit aimed at strengthening cooperation and advancing football development across the Maldives, Football Association of Maldives (FAM) said.

During the one-day visit, Infantino will meet President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to discuss key areas of collaboration in the sport’s growth and governance.

As part of the programme, the two will take part in an exhibition football match at the National Stadium in Male' on Friday evening, from 4 pm to 6 pm.

The event will also feature games involving local football academies and youth teams, showcasing emerging talent from across Maldives.

Fans and members of the football community have been invited to attend what FAM described as a “celebration of football and friendship”.

Infantino’s trip marks only the second time a FIFA president has officially visited the Maldives. His predecessor, Sepp Blatter, visited in 2006 following the Indian Ocean tsunami, meeting then-President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and pledging USD 2 million from FIFA towards the Maldives’ recovery programme.

Although Infantino previously visited the Maldives in 2022, that trip was informal and not part of any official agenda.

This visit comes as FIFA renews efforts to revitalise Maldivian football following years of turmoil within the Football Association of Maldives (FAM).

The association’s former President, Bassam Adeel Jaleel, was removed and later jailed amid corruption allegations, leaving domestic football operations largely paralyzed.

FAM’s current President, Ahmed Thoriq (Tom), was elected earlier this year under the supervision of FIFA’s Normalisation Committee. Thoriq recently met Infantino at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, where the FIFA president praised his leadership and Maldives’ recent South Asian Cup victory against Sri Lanka.

“I have no doubt that Thoriq will use his experience and vision as a former player to strengthen Maldivian football,” Infantino said after the meeting.

Infantino is scheduled to depart the Maldives on Friday night following the exhibition match.