Maldives National Football team has departed for the AFC Asian Cup group fixture in Uzbekistan. The Maldives are drawn in with hosts Uzbekistan, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. The 23-man squad includes some major changes with the likes of Mohamed Shafeeu and Hassan Tholaal omitted from the squad. Maziya reserve goalie Hussain Shareef and Club Eagles young shot-stopper Aleef take the spots.

Ali Fasir returns to the squad after being left out due to injuries against Bangladesh in the friendly fixture. Ibrahim Waheed Hassan also returned to the squad after a break. Green Streets Hassan Nazeem was left out from the squad alongside Maziya striker Asadulla Abdulla. The first fixture in the qualification is against Thailand on the eighth of June before taking on host Uzbekistan on the 11th and rounding up the group stages against Sri Lanka on the 14th.