Greenland Banned from World Cup Qualifying After CONCACAF Rejection
One of the largest countries in the world by landmass—Greenland—has been officially banned from qualifying for future FIFA World Cups after its application for CONCACAF membership was unanimously rejected.
Greenland’s World Cup Dream Ends with CONCACAF Denial
Greenland, the 12th-largest country in the world according to Statista, recently sought to join CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) to compete in international tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup. Despite submitting a comprehensive application, the Greenlandic Football Association (GFA) was denied membership.
“Based on a thorough assessment conducted by the Concacaf administration and Council, and in accordance with Concacaf Statutes, the Member Associations reviewed the membership application submitted by the Greenlandic Football Association and unanimously rejected it,” CONCACAF said in a statement.
A Nation Larger Than the UK, But With Just 56,000 Residents
Greenland spans more territory than the UK, France, Germany, and Italy combined, but its population of just 56,583 makes it one of the least populated places on Earth. Harsh weather conditions, including winter temperatures below -20°C and 80% of land covered in ice, make much of Greenland inhospitable and logistically challenging for sporting infrastructure.
Longstanding Efforts to Join the Global Football Community
Despite not being a FIFA member, Greenland has maintained a national football team that competes in non-FIFA international matches. It has participated in friendly games against European clubs and took part in the Island Games, even defeating Gibraltar twice in the 1990s—years before Gibraltar was admitted into UEFA in 2013.
Greenland's geographic location—part of the North American continent—makes it eligible for CONCACAF rather than UEFA membership, even though it is politically linked to Denmark.
Greenland FA Responds to Rejection
In a public response, Greenland FA chairman Kenneth Kleist expressed disappointment and requested further dialogue with CONCACAF.
“We’ve requested a meeting with Concacaf General Secretary Philippe Moggio to discuss the rejection process, as we have several concerns about how it was handled,” Kleist wrote on Facebook.
He highlighted years of preparation, involving stakeholders from clubs, sponsors, and politicians, as well as a full strategy for player development, coaching, infrastructure, and international compliance.
U.S. Political Comments May Have Affected Bid
Kleist also referenced past comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump—who once proposed buying Greenland—as a factor complicating the application process due to increased media attention.
“In some way, it’s hurting our case… There are so many journalists asking Concacaf and us about Trump,” he said. “But in the big picture, it’s good for us because everybody’s talking about what’s next for Greenland.”
National Coach: “We Deserve a Chance”
Greenland national team coach Morten Rutkjaer expressed confusion and frustration at the decision.
“We are on par with other small nations in CONCACAF in terms of structure and play. We just want the opportunity to prove ourselves—perhaps through a two-year associate membership,” he said.
Other Nations Withdraw from World Cup Qualifying
Greenland is not alone in being sidelined from the World Cup qualification process. Both Eritrea and Congo have been removed from contention:
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Eritrea has not played an international match since 2020 due to repeated match cancellations amid concerns of player defection.
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Congo was suspended by FIFA in February and later reinstated, but not in time to re-enter World Cup qualifiers.
Conclusion: Greenland’s FIFA Ambitions on Hold
Greenland’s hopes of appearing in a future World Cup have hit a major roadblock with CONCACAF’s rejection. Despite a well-developed football strategy and growing international support, the nation remains outside FIFA’s competitive landscape—at least for now.