The participation deadline for the Football Association of Maldives' (FAM) Atoll Championship has been extended to Sunday.

The championship will begin on 17th October, with the participation deadline being previously set for 20th September.

FAM said the deadline was extended as many islands had requested for it.

FAM has asked interested islands to register via the association's competition portal.

FAM has stated that after the number of teams taking part in the championship are finalized, they will announce match dates at various regions at a later date.

The champion and runner-up teams of the sub-zones will qualify for the Regional League. After the four teams competing in the Regional League play in a home-and-away format, the champion team of each league will qualify to play in the Dhivehi Premier League (DPL) qualifiers.

The Second Division champion in the Male' Region, and the 7th and 8th place teams in the DPL will reserve their spots in the DPL qualifiers.

The teams that place in the top four of the upcoming season in the home-and-away format DPL will qualify to play in the next season of the DPL.

DPL competitors HA. Dhidhdhoo and GDh. Gadhdhoo qualified for the league after making their way through the Atoll Championship and the league qualifiers.