Greenland wanted to go to the North American Football Association to at least have the theoretical opportunity to qualify for big tournaments. But there was a removal.
The Concacaf, continental association for North and Central America as well as the Caribbean, has also rejected the application of the world’s largest island. This was confirmed by Kenneth Kleist, President of the National Association Kalaallit Arsaattartut Kattuffiat (KAK). The European umbrella organization UEFA had previously rejected a recording.
Kleist was disappointed. “This is not a victory for football democracy. This does not make football accessible to all people worldwide and it shows that smaller nations have great difficulties in getting permission to play under their own flag”he is quoted in a message spread on Facebook.
Greenland not recognized by the United Nations
Greenland has been a member of the World Association IHF in handball since 1998, 2001 and 2017 it even managed the 57,000 inhabitants to the World Cup. In football, on the other hand, the situation is more difficult despite the extensive autonomy in the Danish kingdom. In contrast to Gibraltar, the UEFA only absorbs states that are recognized by the United Nations.
Kleist did not call the reasons for rejection by Concacaf. Greenland had recently moved to America despite the threat of US President Donald Trump, geographically the island belongs to North America.
Two meetings between Concacaf and the Greenland association had been canceled. At the request of the sports show, the KAK did not express itself with reference to the ongoing procedure. It is not known whether negotiations had now occurred.
“Biggest dream” World Cup qualification
“My biggest dream was from the start that Greenland can of course take part in a World Cup qualification and can compete against other countries out there against other countries“, National coach Morten Rutkjaer had most recently told the Danish-German daily Flensborg-Avis:”Of course you should be allowed – why not? As one of the few countries in the world, they don’t have this right.“It will stay that way.