January 23 – Greenland’s Football Association will send a delegation to the United States next month to begin talks on joining Concacaf, hoping it will boost national pride at a time of global attention.
The Arctic island, which US President Donald Trump says he wants to make part of the United States, has never played competitive international football.
The bid to join Concacaf, first submitted last May, comes amid a growing push for independence from Denmark. If accepted, Greenland would become the 42nd member Concacaf having previously tried and failed to join UEFA.
UEFA requires members to be recognised as fully independent nations by the United Nations, a criterion Greenland does not meet. In contrast, Concacaf allows autonomous territories to join, making it more viable.
Greenland has only 18 pitches and an outdoor season running only from May to August but football is passionately followed by the island’s population of 57,000.
Greenland’s national team, currently composed of amateur players competing in friendlies, is eager to test itself against stronger competition.
The Greenland Football Association insists the upcoming meeting with Concacaf secretary general Philippe Moggio is unrelated to Trump’s recent declaration.
“We want to stand tall and show the world that Greenlandic people are capable and brave enough to take on the big guys,” said national coach Morten Rutkjer. “There is significant interest in playing against us from several major football nations.”
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