Country where football can only be played one week a year wants to be recognized by FIFA

For a country to play in the World Cup, they must have a national team that is recognized by FIFA, and one country is still struggling to make that valid.

Greenland is the largest island in the world, but has a population of just 55,000 people – largely due to extreme weather conditions which can drop to -60 degrees Celsius.

The territory in the Kingdom of Denmark, which has an ice cover that covers 80 percent of its land, has its own football team and national team stadium.

🥶 @hummel1923 have just revealed the new Greenland away kit, and it's ice cold... pic.twitter.com/782QdOi72w

- SoccerBible (@SoccerBible) January 17, 2025

They played their first international match in 1980, losing to the Faroe Islands.

But unlike the Faroe Islands, they have never been considered members of FIFA or UEFA and usually only play friendlies or matches in the Island Games or the Greenland Cup.

Their last match was a 5-0 defeat to Turkmenistan in Turkey in June last year and although they have been lobbying to gain approval from FIFA since 1998, they are forced to play matches infrequently.

🇬🇱 Greenland has officially applied for membership of CONCACAF.

A letter on the Greenland Football Association's Facebook page confirms the historic application has been made.

Greenland's path to UEFA is blocked by current rules, but CONCACAF is theoretically an open route. pic.twitter.com/NRLbM5LCQd

— The Sweeper (@SweeperPod) May 28, 2024

As detailed by The Athletic, the lack of grass pitches due to conditions makes it more difficult to hold matches, but more than 10 percent of the population is registered to play for the national team and there is a league that must be played over a week in the summer due to transportation difficulties.

However, for several years there have been discussions about trying to secure recognition from CONCACAF, (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football).

🇬🇱 Hummel have launched the new Greenland national football team shirt.

The shirt contains symbols relating to Greenlandic mythology and culture.

Greenland presented an application to CONCACAF in May but currently remains outside of FIFA's fold.

Greenland's annual… pic.twitter.com/kdu9Hio81S

— The Sweeper (@SweeperPod) December 13, 2024

In May 2024, an official application was submitted by the Greenland FA, but there has been no movement yet on whether they have received the green light.

There are currently 41 members in CONCACAF, including the United States, Mexico, Canada, Jamaica and Costa Rica. /Telegraph/