Sidibari
Ninety-Plus, the organizers of the Gold Cup, have restructured the format, revealing that a total of 28 teams are to be included this year.
Ten out of the twenty-eight teams have already been determined. The eight quarterfinalists have automatically been granted a slot.
In addition, an invitation will be sent to two of the five cities of Maldives that did not participate last year, Kulhudhuffushi City and Thinadhoo City.
The remaining eighteen slots will be decided with qualifying rounds within each atoll, in collaboration with atoll and island councils. Ninety-Plus has stated that an announcement for participation in the atoll qualifications will be made within this month.
With the expansion of teams from 17 to 28, the second Gold Cup will see the teams divided into seven groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group, alongside the two best-performing third-placed teams, will qualify for the round of sixteen.
Thus, unlike last year, there will just be one round of the group stage, and the added knockout round; the round of 16.
Ninety-Plus intends to host the tournament towards the end of the year, but a schedule will be published only after FAM reveals its revised calendar.
The very first Gold Cup was held last year from 21 November to 25 December. Just as last year, Ninety-Plus plans to host this year’s tournament within a 35-day window.
Eydhafushi on top of Maldivian football as winners of Gold Cup
The unprecedented Gold Cup had been wildly successful last year, as it revived the spirit of atoll-football, while simultaneously filling the void left by the pause in the tiered football system.
