Maldives U20

Qualifiers and regional tournaments have taken the age group as far as the ANFA Complex in Nepal and Madya Stadium in Indonesia, and in 2026 the country returns the favour by hosting the SAFF U-20 Championship itself.

The side answers to the Football Association of Maldives and wears the same red shirt and the same nickname, Red Snappers, as the senior team it feeds. Mohamed Ilan Imran , the captain, has already made that step up to senior duty.

Third place at the 2019 SAFF U-18 Championship and again at the 2025 SAFF U-19 Championship are the best the group has managed, both bronze finishes built on runs to the semi-finals rather than final-day wins. India's under-20 side has been the recurring obstacle there, beating the Maldives at that semi-final stage in 2025, with Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh filling out the region's other tests.

Forward Ethan Ibrahim Zakee , on New Radiant's books, scored in qualifying for the 2026 AFC U20 Asian Cup against Brunei, part of a squad now turning its attention to hosting the SAFF Championship on home ground.