FIFA President Gianni Infantino to Visit Maldives: First Official Visit by a FIFA Chief in 19 Years

Ahmed Shurau
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is set to arrive in the Maldives on Friday, 24 October 2025, marking the first visit by a sitting FIFA President in nearly two decades.
The last such visit occurred in 2006, when then-FIFA President Sepp Blatter travelled to the Maldives as part of a regional tour of tsunami-affected nations. During that visit, Blatter met with former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and spent two days in the country.
Confirming the visit, Football Association of Maldives (FAM) President Ahmed Thoriq described the upcoming trip as a historic milestone for Maldivian football.
He added that Infantino’s visit would further strengthen the relationship between FIFA and FAM, while accelerating ongoing football development initiatives across the nation.
Thoriq had recently met with Infantino at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, following an invitation from the global football body. Discussions focused on strategic collaboration, infrastructure development, and youth football programs in the Maldives.
Infantino’s visit comes at a pivotal time for Maldivian football, as the country intensifies efforts to enhance facilities, youth training systems, and international partnerships — signalling a new era of growth for the sport in the island nation.



