The U19 Youth Championship 2026 will get underway on Saturday, 27 June, with six clubs set to compete for the national youth title in a tournament organised by the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) with assistance from the Japan Football Association (JFA).

This year’s competition will feature Buru SC, Keyodhoo, Odi SC, Maziya Sports & Recreation, TC Sports Club, and New Radiant Sports Club (NRSC). The tournament will be played in a single round-robin format, with each team facing every other team once. At the end of the league stage, the top two teams in the standings will qualify for the final to determine the 2026 champions.

The opening day will feature two matches at the National Stadium. Maziya will face TC Sports Club at 4:00 PM, before Buru SC take on Keyodhoo at 9:00 PM. The third fixture of the opening round will see Odi SC play NRSC on Sunday, 28 June, at 9:00 PM.

The league stage will run until 14 July, with the championship final scheduled for 17 July. All matches will be played at the National Stadium.

The U19 Youth Championship remains one of the Maldives’ most important youth football competitions, providing a platform for the country’s brightest young talents to showcase their abilities. Organised with the support of the Japan Football Association, the tournament forms part of the continued partnership between FAM and JFA to strengthen youth football development and create more competitive opportunities for emerging players.

Dhidhdhoo head coach Moosa Ibrahim has praised his side’s outstanding Dhivehi Premier League Qualifiers campaign after guiding the team to promotion with victories over all three regional champions.

Dhidhdhoo defeated Central Region champions Huraa, Male’ Region champions Biss Buru, and South Region champions Gadhdhoo during the qualifiers, becoming the only team to overcome all three regional title holders.

Reflecting on the campaign, Moosa described the achievement as a testament to the team’s resilience, especially after playing five crucial away matches and collecting 10 points.

“Playing away in five big games and collecting 10 points while beating three champions is not an easy task. These wins are the result of hard work, determination, teamwork and belief throughout the journey,”

The head coach also paid tribute to everyone who contributed to the club’s success.

“A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated coaching team, committed players, supportive officials, supporters and management for your tireless efforts and unwavering support. Every contribution, on and off the field, made this achievement possible. Congratulations to everyone on this well-deserved victory. Let’s keep the momentum going,” Moosa said.

Dhidhdhoo sealed promotion to the 2026/27 Dhivehi Premier League, capping off an impressive qualifying campaign highlighted by wins over the champions of the Central, Male’, and South regions.

Dhidhdhoo Sports Club produced a stunning performance in the final match of the DPL Qualifiers 2026/27, defeating Biss Buru Sports Club 6-2 to bring the competition to a close.

The result saw Dhidhdhoo finish level on 10 points with TC Sports Club and Biss Buru, but third in the standings due to goal difference. TC Sports topped the table with a superior goal difference of +10, while Biss Buru finished second on +8 and Dhidhdhoo third on +4.

Despite the heavy defeat, Biss Buru had already done enough to secure promotion to the Dhivehi Premier League. Gadhdhoo Sports Club claimed the fourth and final qualification spot with nine points from five matches.

The final standings confirmed TC Sports, Biss Buru, Dhidhdhoo and Gadhdhoo as the four clubs that will compete in the Dhivehi Premier League 2026/27.

At the other end of the table, Club Green Street and Huraa Community Club missed out on qualification after difficult campaigns. Green Street collected two points from five matches, while Huraa finished bottom with a single point.

The qualifiers featured a dramatic finish, with three teams ending on 10 points and the race for positioning being decided by goal difference. Dhidhdhoo’s emphatic victory over Biss Buru in the final match provided a fitting conclusion to a highly competitive qualifying tournament.