FIFA published its Futsal Ranking yesterday, with both Maldives' National Men's and Women's teams featuring in the global top 100. 

This is a historical achievement for the Maldives, as this is the first time a Maldives' team has made it to the top 100 in the FIFA World Ranking system. 

FIFA began publishing the Futsal Ranking in 2024, separately for men and women. The Maldives' National Men's Futsal team ranks 99th on the list. The Maldives' National Women's Futsal team, compiled for the first time in January this year, ranks 96th on the women's list. 

The men's team, which won the SAFF Men's Futsal Championship this year, is listed at the top of the ranking in the SAFF region. 

Teams from India and Bangladesh, strong actors in regional football, did not make the top 100 in the futsal ranking. 

Maldives' futsal team, meanwhile, also ranked 24th in the Asian region. 

In the men's ranking, Maldives has made headway against strong global opponents like United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Switzerland and Hong Kong.

In women's futsal, despite ranking 96th globally, the team is highly competitive regionally. 

Although in the women's futsal ranking in the SAFF region, countries like India, Bhutan and Nepal rank higher than Maldives, the Maldives' women's team is number 35 in Asia. 

Experts say the Maldives' women's team has the potential to rise higher in the ranking if they persistently play matches and participate in tournaments. 

Some developed countries like South Korea, Denmark, Qatar and Singapore are not included in the women's ranking. 

Football Association of Maldives (FAM) announced last Thursday that major changes are to be brought to the futsal framework in the country. 

Amongst these changes, the Club Maldives Cup is to accepted as the official top tier league, with changes to be brought to the tournament's regulations to facilitate national team players to receive the MVR 7000 allowance from the government.