Maldives opens doors to U-17 Palestinian football team

Government of Maldives has decided to permit the young U-17 Palestinian football team to stay in the Maldives for training.

The Football Association of Maldives (FAM) President Ahmed Thorig and Sports and Health Minister Abdullah Rafiu met on Tuesday.

The meeting discussed the arrangements and expenses required for the Palestinian national team.

While this decision has been made, FAM had already decided to discuss the costs with the Maldives government at its last exco meeting after they received the offer from the Palestinian team.

This is an important decision to further strengthen relations between Palestine and Maldives and to assist Palestine in sports, the sports ministry said in a post.

ކުޅިވަރާއި ހަށިހެޔޮކަމާ ބެހޭ ވަޒީރު ޢަބްދުﷲ ރާފިޢު މިއަދުވަނީ ފުޓްބޯޅަ އެސޯސިއޭޝަން އޮފް މޯލްޑިވްސް (އެފްއޭއެމް)ގެ އިސްވެރިންނާ ބައްދަލު ކުރައްވާފައި. މި ބައްދަލުކުރެއްވުމުގައި އޭއެފްސީ 17 އަހަރުން ދަށުގެ އޭޝިއަން ކަޕް ކޮލިފައިންގައި ވާދަކުރާ ފަލަސްތީނުގެ ޤައުމީ ޓީމް ރާއްޖޭގައި… pic.twitter.com/VwM4apuu1j

— Ministry of Sports, Fitness and Recreation (@MoSFR_mv) September 2, 2025

The Palestinian national football team is scheduled to camp in Maldives from November 8 to 19, in preparation for the AFC Under-17 Asian Cup qualifiers.

The ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict has prevented Palestinian teams from competing and training on their own soil, leading to their reliance on other countries for such activities.

Palestine is placed in Group D of the Asian Cup Under-17 qualifiers, which will be held in India. Alongside Palestine and India, the group includes Iran, Chinese Taipei, and Lebanon. The qualifying matches are slated to run from November 22 to 30.