On top of the world, but left on the footballing sidelines

Greenland's passion for football sees the game played all day and night in 24-hour summer sunlight. All the national team needs now is recognition and opposition, writes Kwiyeon Ha

- Kwiyeon Ha

Greenland, a vast expanse of ice and snow for much of the year, transforms into a vibrant hub of football activity during its brief summer months. The sport is deeply ingrained in the island’s culture, with nearly 10 per cent of its 56,000 residents registered players.

However, this passion was met with a significant setback earlier this month when the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) unanimously rejected the Greenlandic national team’s application for membership.

The decision, a crushing blow to the island’s sporting aspirations, has been met with speculation that geopolitical tensions may have played a role. Some have linked the rejection to US president Donald Trump’s repeated expressions of interest in acquiring the strategic, mineral-rich territory. Concacaf operates as one of six continental federations under Fifa, the global governing body for football.

President Trump has not ruled out military force in relation to Greenland, despite strong rebukes from both the Danish government, a Nato ally, and Greenlandic leaders. Both parties have unequivocally stated that the island is not for sale and have condemned reports of increased US intelligence gathering on the semi-autonomous Danish territory. The intersection of sporting ambition and international diplomacy continues to shape Greenland’s future on the global stage.

But Patrick Frederiksen, captain of the national team, thinks Concacaf’s rejection came down to money. “We all know it’s really expensive to travel to Greenland,” he said.