The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed that, FIFA world cup and Asian cup joint qualifying, Maldives group (group A) matches will host in china June 2021.

AFC has confirmed the countries to host the centralize qualifying matches. China will host the Maldives group matches. The countries to host other groups are, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Japan, UAE and Korea Republic.

In the Maldives group, there are 5 countries. They are Maldives, China, Syria, Guam and Philippines.

For the qualifying round, Maldives has 3 matches left in the group. These includes match against China, Syria and Philippines. The match against Syria is Maldives home match. However, AFC has declared that Maldives won’t have home match in qualifying round.

Due to increasing number of Covid-19, the matches have postponed three times. First the matches were postponed to play in last year October and November. However, again the matches were postponed to play in this year March and June.

At last, AFC has scheduled to play matches centralized in May and June this year.

Football Association of Maldives General Secretary Hussain Javaaz has said that Maldives football season was halt after the HPA’s new set of guidelines due to increasing number of Covid-19 in greater Male’ area.

 Therefore, AFC has confirmed to play Maldives FIFA world cup and Asian cup joint qualifying matches in June.

Qualifying Matches Schedule.

-  China vs Maldives (June 3)

- Guam vs Philippines (June 3)

- Guam vs China (June 7)

- Maldives vs Syria (June 7)

- China vs Philippines (June11)

- Guam vs Syria (June 11)

- China vs Syria (June 15)

- Maldives vs Philippines (June 15)

Maldives is in fourth place in the group with 6 points. While Syria is in the first place with 15 points, China is in second place with 7 points and Philippines is in third place with 7 points. Guam is in fifth place in the group with zero points. Maldives target is to qualify to 2023 Asian Cup.