Huge Country ‘Banned’ from World Cup as Manager Speaks Out After Having Dream Crushed

One of the world’s largest countries has been barred from World Cup qualification after its application to join CONCACAF was rejected. Two nations, Eritrea and Congo, had already been excluded from qualifying—Eritrea due to fears of player defections and Congo because of a temporary FIFA suspension.

Now, Greenland, the 12th-largest country by landmass, has had its hopes dashed after CONCACAF unanimously denied its membership request. Despite its massive size, Greenland’s population is just 56,583, with much of its land uninhabitable due to extreme cold and ice coverage.

Football in Greenland has persisted through non-FIFA competitions, with the national team playing friendlies against European clubs and participating in events like the Island Games. Geographically part of North America, Greenland sought CONCACAF membership but was rejected without detailed explanation,

leaving officials frustrated. Kenneth Kleist, Greenland FA chairman, criticized the decision, stating years of strategic planning had been dismissed without proper consideration. Greenland’s coach, Morten Rutkjaer, argued the team’s level matches other small CONCACAF nations and questioned why they weren’t given a trial period.

The rejection comes amid lingering political attention on Greenland, including past remarks from Donald Trump about purchasing the territory. Kleist acknowledged the unwanted distraction but believed the global spotlight could have helped their case for recognition. With no clear path forward, Greenland’s dream of World Cup participation remains frozen—much like its icy landscape.