


A milestone in organising the nation’s game
The Mauritius Football Association (MFA), formerly known as the Mauritius Sports Association, was founded in 1952 through the initiative of the Sports Committee of Curepipe. Its founding members were Curepipe SC, Dodo Club, Faucon Club, Hounds, Royal College of Curepipe, and Saint-Joseph College. Several other clubs – including Fire Brigade, Muslim Scouts, Pere-Laval, Stade Olympique, Wings, and Police – were later admitted as associate members, along with Hindu Cadets a year later.
In its early years, the Association demonstrated strong ambition. Notably, in 1954, it hosted Burnley FC, the first English football club to visit Mauritius. At that time, matches were played at venues such as Stade Barry, located where the current New George V Stadium stands.
A major milestone came with the construction of the King George V Stadium, completed in 1955. The land was leased from the Municipal Council of Curepipe, and construction was carried out by Compagnie Jacques Noel, under the condition that all First Division and international matches would be played there. In 1961, the stadium’s capacity was expanded with the addition of a new stand, known as Mohun Bagan, built during the visit of the Indian football club of the same name.
The Association gained affiliation with the Football Association in 1958, followed by international recognition through admission to FIFA in 1962 and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 1963.
A historic moment for Mauritian football came in 1974, when the national team qualified for the African Cup of Nations in Egypt, the first and only time to date.
The sports landscape changed significantly in 1982 with the introduction of the Sports Act (1984), which ended the communal organisation of sports in Mauritius. As a result, the Mauritius Sports Association updated its name and statutes, becoming the Mauritius Football Association.
While some iconic clubs like Hounds and Faucon Club disappeared from the sporting scene, and others like Dodo Club withdrew from football, the MFA continued to grow. Today, it remains one of the most structured and active sports organisations in Mauritius.
The MFA is responsible for organising all major football activities on the island, including the National Super League, Division One, Division Two, the MFA Cup, and the Republic Cup. It also oversees youth development, women’s football, futsal, and beach soccer.
In recent years, the MFA has invested in technical development and international partnerships. Collaborations with Benfica (Portugal) led to the creation of a High-Performance Centre, and an agreement with LaLiga has helped improve local coaching standards and youth development programs.
Currently, the MFA counts more than 300 affiliated clubs and around 12,000 registered licensees. It continues to work toward its mission of promoting football across all levels, ensuring accessibility, professionalism, and sustainable growth in the sport.