Maldives has begun preparations for the Asian Cup qualifying match against Bhutan. Last night the team held their first session at the national football stadium.

Football Association of the Maldives announced the 27 player squad for the upcoming national fixtures. First Maldives will meet Afghanistan in Dubai on the 6^th of June in an international friendly match. And then Maldives will play their second qualifying match of Asian Cup UAE 2019 against Bhutan.

Meanwhile the on-going STO Male’ League has been on a break to give enough time to the national to prepare for these games. The FAM is implementing plans to conduct training camps abroad.

Maldives sits in the third position of the rankings ahead of Bhutan on goal difference after each team has played one game.

On the other hand, the strongest two teams in the group, Oman and Palestine will go head to head at the time when Maldives plays against Bhutan. If Oman and Palestine match ends on one side favor, though Maldives has already lost the first match to Palestine, Maldives has a great chance to pick the second spot of the ranking by winning against Bhutan.