Greenland’s utility for membership of Concacaf has been unanimously rejected.
The world’s largest island, which has by no means performed aggressive worldwide soccer, has a inhabitants of 57,000 and is a sovereign territory of Denmark however is geographically a part of North America.
It’s unable to affix Uefa as a result of the European governing physique solely admits international locations recognised by the United Nations, however there isn’t a such requirement for Concacaf, which governs North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Greenland performs non-Fifa sanctioned friendlies however hopes of aggressive worldwide soccer for the primary time have been dashed at a gathering in Miami earlier than the Gold Cup.
“Primarily based on an intensive evaluation carried out by the Concacaf administration and Council, and in accordance with the Concacaf Statutes, the Member Associations reviewed the membership utility submitted by the Greenlandic Soccer Affiliation and unanimously rejected it,” stated a Concacaf assertion.
President Donald Trump has made repeated requires the US to take management of the territory, which has induced outrage in each Denmark and Greenland.
Greenland covers an space better than the scale of western Europe, however 81% of its land mass is roofed by sheet ice.
In accordance with the nation’s tourism web site, Greenland has 76 soccer golf equipment and 5,500 registered gamers, round 10% of the inhabitants.
Nevertheless, the cruel Arctic local weather means soccer can solely be performed exterior for 5 months of the yr and on gravel pitches or synthetic turf.
Final yr, Greenland supervisor Morten Rutkjaer stated membership of Concacaf would assist enhance their gamers.
