GREENLAND’S hopes of playing competitive football on the world stage were dashed when the country was told it cannot join the confederation that also represents the Caribbean.
The Arctic territory of Denmark started exploring entry to Concacaf — which covers North and Central America — three years ago.
AlamyIncredible playing views, like this one in Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Island, couldn’t help Greenland get accepted[/caption]
GettyFootball is hugely popular in the vast island nation[/caption]
With a route into Uefa blocked, the Confederation that also includes the sun-kissed Caribbean was seen as the only alternative for the world’s largest island, which is mostly covered with ice and has a population of just 57,000.
Incredibly the country has 5,500 registered players.
But Concacaf’s ruling committee killed off the Polar Teddy Bears’ dream at its Congress.
A statement said their membership application had been reviewed and “unanimously rejected”.
Greenland is the world’s largest island and bigger than western Europe, but 81% of its land is topped by sheet ice.
And it has never played official international football.
Although it is a sovereign territory of Denmark, its considered to be part of North America geographically.
Joining Uefa was a no-no – as European football chiefs only accept countries formally recognised by the United Nations.
AlamySuch breathtaking sights still won’t host official international matches[/caption]
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Greenland have played friendlies – but they are NOT sanctioned by football’s world rulers Fifa.
And now Concacaf have declined to help the country, which is nine times larger than the UK, make the next major step forward.
The organisation said in a statement: “Based on a thorough assessment conducted by the Concacaf administration and Council, and in accordance with the Concacaf Statutes, the Member Associations reviewed the membership application submitted by the Greenlandic Football Association and unanimously rejected it.”
It comes with US President Donald Trump claiming he wants his country to take control of Greenland.
But the the ice-covered nation, as well as Denmark, insist there is no chance of that happening.
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