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Manager speaks out after country 'banned' from World Cup because of 'unbelievable' decision

Home> Football> Football News

Published 10:19 26 Jun 2025 GMT+1

Manager speaks out after country 'banned' from World Cup because of 'unbelievable' decision

Greenland were denied membership of CONCACAF after all 41 member countries denied their application.

Ryan Smart

Ryan Smart

The manager of Greenland has spoken out after the nation was denied membership of CONCACAF - banning them from qualifying for the World Cup in the process.

Greenland has long competed in non-FIFA affiliated tournaments but submitted a proposal for membership of CONCACAF - the body which controls football in north America - earlier this year.

The nation is politically a part of Europe and an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark, but is classed as part of the north American continent and therefore cannot apply for UEFA membership.

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However, their proposal was 'unanimously rejected' by all 41 CONCACAF members at an extraordinary meeting in Miami, leaving them at an impasse.

Greenland is the 12th-biggest country in the world, as per Statista, but is only inhabited by 56,583 people as 80 per cent of the land is covered by ice and snow.

Their football association's chairman, Kenneth Kleist, said in a Facebook statement earlier this month that he requested a meeting with CONCACAF to discuss the matter further and get further clarity on the reasons behind the rejection.

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He added: "We've developed a highly elaborate strategy for all teams across all age groups, for training coaches, referees and leaders - not to mention the mapping of infrastructure, finances, marketing, sponsorships, rights and conditions for opponents and officials."

Now, Greenland manager Morten Rutkjaer has spoken out - and didn't hold back with his thoughts on the process.

"Greenland can never ever play an official international match now," he told TV 2 Sport. "It is unbelievable.

"It is a shame for children and young people in Greenland that there is now nothing to play and dream about. We do not think it is fair that we are excluded from football.

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"I had at least expected that we would be told what we had to work on so that we could eventually become a member. But I am shocked that we are being rejected on 10 lines without any justification.

"Concacaf asked us not to communicate to the media that we wanted to be part of Concacaf as long as the application was ongoing. If we did, we could risk that our application would not be considered.

"So basically we had to keep our mouths shut. You can certainly disagree, but we were shocked that they did it that way."

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: FIFA, UEFA

Ryan Smart
Ryan Smart

Live in constant hope of the top flight as a Preston North End fan. Written in the past for SPORF, GiveMeSport and more.

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