Dhivehi Premier League
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| Founded | 22 December 2014 |
|---|---|
| Country | Maldives |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of clubs | 10 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Second Division |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup President's Cup Charity Shield |
| International cup | AFC Challenge League |
| Current champions | Maziya (6th title) (2025–26) |
| Most championships | Maziya (6 titles) |
| Broadcaster(s) | Television Maldives |
| Current: 2025–26 Dhivehi Premier League | |
The Dhivehi Premier League, known as the Dhiraagu Dhivehi Premier League for sponsorship reasons, is a Maldivian men's professional football league. At the top of the Maldives football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 10 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Second Division Football Tournament.
The Dhivehi Premier League succeeded the Dhivehi League. Currently all ten teams are based in the capital city of Male' at the National Football Stadium.
Titles by club
| Season | Champions | Runners-up | Topscorers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | New Radiant | Trust and Care SC | |
| 2016 | Maziya | Trust and Care SC | |
| 2017 | New Radiant | Trust and Care SC | |
| 2018 | Trust and Care SC | Maziya | |
| 2019–20 | Maziya | Eagles | |
| 2020–21 | Maziya | Valencia | |
| 2022 | Maziya | Eagles | |
| 2023 | Maziya | Eagles | |
| 2025–26 | Maziya | Odi Sports | TBC |
| Clubs | Champions |
Winning season | Runners-up |
Runner-up season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maziya | 6 | 2016, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022, 2023, 2025–26 | 1 | 2018 |
| New Radiant | 2 | 2015, 2017 | 0 | |
| Trust and Care SC | 1 | 2018 | 3 | 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| Eagles | 0 | 3 | 2019–20, 2022, 2023 | |
| Valencia | 0 | 1 | 2020–21 | |
| Odi Sports | 0 | 1 | 2025–26 |
Source: rsssf.org[1]
Competition format
The Premier League began with 8 teams, with a format in which each club plays the others thrice (a double round-robin system), for a total of 21 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match decides rank.
In 2025, the league format changed to now include 10 teams, now the club plays the others twice for a total of 18 games. Teams are ranked by total points, goal difference, and goals scored. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship or relegation, a play-off match decides the rank. The bottom two teams of the league gets relegated to the Regional Leagues, (the current Second Division), while the teams who finish 7th and 8th respectively they will go to the Promotion/Relegation playoff with the winners of the 4 FAM Regional League, with the top 6 avoiding relegation all together.
Qualification for Asian competitions
Two teams qualify for the AFC Cup. The winner directly qualifies to the group stage. While the second spot is a play-off. It is given to the winner of the FA Cup. If the winner of the league wins the FA Cup the second spot goes to the second placed team in the league. The team must win play-off to get to the group stage.
Since the inauguration of the AFC Challenge League in 2024, only one team, the winner qualify for the AFC Challenge League play-offs. The team must win play-offs to get to the group stage.
Sponsorship
| Period | Sponsor | Brand |
|---|---|---|
| 2015–2018 | Ooredoo Maldives | Ooredoo Dhivehi Premier League |
| 2019–21 | Dhiraagu | Dhiraagu Dhivehi Premier League |
| 2022 | Ooredoo Maldives | Ooredoo Dhivehi Premier League |
| 2023 | MWSC | MWSC Dhivehi Premier League |
| 2025– | Dhiraagu | Dhiraagu Dhivehi Premier League |
Awards
The Football Association of Maldives (FAM) provides each Premier League team with an amount of MVR 1.6 million. The Champion team also receives a MVR 1 million cash prize.[citation needed][2]
Current clubs
- Note: Table lists clubs in alphabetical order.
| Team | Division | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buru SC | Machchangolhi | National Football Stadium | 5,000 |
| Club Eagles | Maafannu | ||
| Green Streets | Machchangolhi | ||
| Maziya | West Maafannu | ||
| New Radiant | Henveiru | ||
| Odi SC | Galolhu | ||
| Trust and Care SC | Henveiru | ||
| United Victory | Galolhu | ||
| Valencia | Machchangolhi | ||
| Victory SC | Galolhu |