Picture the Maldives and football probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.
The archipelagic country in the Indian Ocean is one of the most idyllic locations on this planet. Blue seas and golden sands, not grassy football pitches, are the image of the Maldives that is presented to the world.
It’s difficult to imagine a top-level player ever coming through in such an environment. What’s the need to play football in paradise?
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Over the next month, though, the Maldives has an opportunity to remind everyone why it was once considered a football hotbed with the 2026 SAFF Championship kicking off this weekend.
In a country not widely known for its football eco-system, there is a passion for the game that could once again bubble to the surface.
