This massive island, which functions as an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark, is inhabited by about 57,000 people and boasts some of the most severe weather conditions on the globe, with approximately 80% of its area being an ice sheet. These environmental conditions render outdoor sports, including football, unfeasible for ten months of the year, even when using artificial turf. Despite this, football remains the most popular sport in Greenland, surpassing indoor sports like handball, futsal, and badminton. Why is this the case?
“The Greenlandic sports structure mirrors that of Denmark,” Professor Ramus Storm of the Danish Institute for Sports Studies informed DW. “They have a framework with sports federations, and various sports receive a considerable amount of public funding from Denmark. Therefore, they are quite well-financed relative to their size.”
Advanced football seems out of reach
However, the nation’s climate and the difficulty of internal travel make progress at the elite level unachievable.
“Developing a top-tier football team in Greenland is extremely challenging,” said Storm, who has conducted extensive research on sports in Greenland and visited the island to study it.
“If you were to take the best players, relocate them to Denmark, and have them participate in the tournaments there, it could potentially lead to better training conditions and perhaps an improvement in their skills. However, accomplishing this in Greenland is nearly impossible.”
Individuals demonstrating potential in sports typically need to move to Denmark to realize their potential. Only a few Greenland-born footballers have reached the highest levels, with Jesper Gronkjaer, the former Chelsea and Ajax player born in Greenland before moving as an infant, being the most notable. Gronkjaer earned 80 caps for Denmark, and all Greenlanders are automatically eligible to play for Denmark.
The pathways to success are somewhat smoother in handball, futsal, and sports where the Danish system’s funding can support indoor facilities in Greenland. However, winter sports are not as common in Greenland as one might assume; the climate is too harsh even for skiing and other snow sports for most of the year.
Easier success in other sports
Despite their current status as a Danish territory, Greenland does have national teams in various sports. They have previously qualified for the men’s and women’s World Handball Championship and participate in international futsal tournaments. Nonetheless, gaining entry to FIFA remains the ultimate goal for football in the country, given its global significance.
While Greenland is linked to Denmark, it is geographically closer to North America. As a result, the country is seeking recognition from CONCACAF, the FIFA confederation for North, Central America, and the Caribbean. They are unable to join UEFA, the European governing body, which only admits countries recognized as such by the UN. In contrast, CONCACAF does not have such restrictions.
Could Trump’s influence expedite Greenland’s CONCACAF aspirations?
The ongoing debate over Greenland’s independence has intensified since US President Donald Trump expressed his interest in acquiring the territory. Leaders in both Denmark and Greenland have expressed irritation over the US’s intention to send a delegation, which now includes Vice President J.D. Vance, to visit a US military base on the island.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated that the visit would apply “unacceptable pressure” on both Greenland and Denmark.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who is expected to become Greenland’s next prime minister following the March 11 parliamentary election, has also criticized the visit.
“We should not be forced into a power struggle that we have not chosen to be a part of,” he remarked on Monday.
Professor Storm believes that Trump’s pressure on Greenland could actually intensify the push to join CONCACAF. He pointed to a recent poll indicating “significant opposition” to the United States’ desire to take over Greenland, possibly setting the stage for a more robust national identity centered around Greenland’s representation in sports.
This article was initially published on January 10, 2025. It underwent updates on March 25, following the announcement of a planned US delegation visit to the territory.
Edited by: Chuck Penfold
