Playing their first international in just 1979, a 9-0 loss to the Seychelles was a sign of things to come for the Maldives national football team. They have had precious little success in the three decades since that game, a period which includes a 13-0 loss to Iran.
The new millennium brought an upturn in fortunes. Maldives have made progress in several international tournaments, including winning the 2008 South Asian Football Federation Cup.
Maldives’ world cup record is historically poor. They first attempted to qualify for the 1990 tournament but ultimately withdrew from qualification. However, they have entered every competition since 1998 and have shown some signs of progress. If the team continues to regularly enter larger competitions they will keep improving.