National Football Stadium (Maldives)

{{Short description|Sports stadium in Malé, Maldives}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox venue | name = Galolhu Football Stadium | native_name = ގަލޮޅު ފުޓްބޯޅަ ދަނޑު<br /> ''(Gaumee Football Dhan'du)'' | image = Rashmee Dhandu Stadium on a matchday of the 2021 SAFF Championship.jpg | image_size = 270px | caption = The stadium on a matchday of the [[2021 SAFF Championship]] | fullname = National Football Stadium | nickname = Galolhu Dhandu | location = Majeedhee Magu, [[Malé, Maldives]] | coordinates = {{Coord|4|10|26.7|N|73|30|47.1|E|type:landmark_region:MV|display=it}} | built = | opened = 1979 | renovated = 2014 | closed = | demolished = | owner = | operator = [[Football Association of Maldives]] | surface = [[Grass]] | construction_cost = | architect = | former_names = | tenants = [[Maldives national football team]] (1979–present)<br/>various clubs<br/>[[Maldives women's national football team]] | seating_capacity = 11,850<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/teams/maldives/new-radiant/3856/|title=Maldiven - New Radiant SC - Resultaten, programma's, selectie, foto's, videos en nieuws - Soccerway|work=soccerway.com|access-date=6 March 2015}}</ref> | dimensions = }}

The '''National Football Stadium''',<ref>{{cite web | url=https://int.soccerway.com/venues/maldives/rasmee-dhandu-stadium/v3579/ | title=National Football Stadium (Maldives) - Soccerway }}</ref> also known as the '''Galolhu Rasmee Dhandu Stadium''' ({{langx|dv|ގަލޮޅު ފުޓްބޯޅަ ދަނޑު}}), is a [[multi-purpose stadium]] in [[Malé]], [[Maldives]]. It is used mostly for [[football (soccer)|football]] matches of the [[Dhivehi Premier League]], the [[Maldives FA Cup]], the [[Maldivian FA Charity Shield]], the [[President's Cup (Maldives)|President's Cup]], the [[FAM Women's Football Championship]], and national teams. The stadium holds over 11,000 spectators. The stadium was renovated for the [[2014 AFC Challenge Cup]], and rebranded as the National Football Stadium.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/asia/maldives/male_dhandu.shtml | title=Rasmee Dhandu Stadium (Galolhu Dhandu) | publisher=worldstadiums | access-date=13 March 2021 | archive-date=21 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021034832/http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/asia/maldives/male_dhandu.shtml | url-status=dead }}</ref>

Football has long been popular in the Maldives, with sports clubs playing a key role in developing the game. Before 2010, important matches at the National Football Stadium regularly attracted thousands of spectators. Football clubs relied on ticket revenue, supplemented by government support, to fund their operations. However, in recent years, attendances have declined sharply. Many top-flight football league matches at the National Football Stadium are played with only dozens of spectators in attendance, while clubs are facing financial difficulties despite ongoing government grants.<ref>https://zariyand.com/2024/05/26/challenges-and-prospects-in-maldivian-football-part-1/</ref>

[[File:AFC CUP.JPG|thumb|Victory SC player (''in white'') in action against [[South China AA]] during the [[2008 AFC Cup]] match at the stadium]]

[[File:MV-stadion.jpg|thumb|Exterior of the stadium on a matchday of the Dhivehi Premier League]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Football venues in the Maldives]] [[Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in Asia]] [[Category:Sport in Malé]]