🇬🇱 After 2 years of pandemic-enforced cancellations, the Greenlandic Football Championship - the shortest season in world football - returns this week.
How does it work? Where? And who takes part? We take a look with the help of some people with first-hand experience.
THREAD 🧵
How does it work? Where? And who takes part? We take a look with the help of some people with first-hand experience.
THREAD 🧵
Located in the North Atlantic between 🇨🇦 & 🇮🇸, Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark.
With a surface area of 2.166m km (of which around 80% is covered by ice) but a population of only 56,000, it's the world's most sparsely populated territory.
With a surface area of 2.166m km (of which around 80% is covered by ice) but a population of only 56,000, it's the world's most sparsely populated territory.
It got its name from Erik The Red, an Icelandic murderer exiled to the island who called it "Greenland" in the hope that the name would attract settlers.
Though now covered by ice, scientists say the world's largest island was actually quite green over 2.5 million years ago.
Though now covered by ice, scientists say the world's largest island was actually quite green over 2.5 million years ago.
According to ex-Greenland FA president Finn Meinel, the conditions determine the length of the one-week long football season:
"We have 17 cities spread over 2 million km2. The cities are a long way from each other. We don't have roads or traffic, other than by boat or by air."
"We have 17 cities spread over 2 million km2. The cities are a long way from each other. We don't have roads or traffic, other than by boat or by air."
Not only are the journeys long & costly, they can be very dangerous too.
According to @paul_c_watson in @FourFourTwo, three players sailed across Disko Bay in north-west Greenland in 2004 & never came home after their boat ran aground on the uninhabited Hare Island.
According to @paul_c_watson in @FourFourTwo, three players sailed across Disko Bay in north-west Greenland in 2004 & never came home after their boat ran aground on the uninhabited Hare Island.
"That [the distance] is one thing. The other is we're an Arctic country, which means our summer is very short.
Usually, the snow leaves in May & by September the conditions are harsh again.
We play futsal in the winter & when the snow leaves we play football," Meinel added.
Usually, the snow leaves in May & by September the conditions are harsh again.
We play futsal in the winter & when the snow leaves we play football," Meinel added.
What about the format then? How do you squeeze a tournament into a week?
Well the qualification is held regionally & takes place earlier in summer, followed by the finals in August.
The current format is two groups of four, with semi-finals & a final to determine the winner.
Well the qualification is held regionally & takes place earlier in summer, followed by the finals in August.
The current format is two groups of four, with semi-finals & a final to determine the winner.
The 2022 edition will be held in Ilulissat on the west coast, the 3rd-largest city in the country, located around 350km north of the Arctic Circle.
The most popular tourist destination in Greenland, Ilulissat is reportedly home to almost as many sled-dogs as people (pop: 4,670).
The most popular tourist destination in Greenland, Ilulissat is reportedly home to almost as many sled-dogs as people (pop: 4,670).
That is where Nagdlunguaq-48, the 2019 champions, hail from.
They are the 2nd-most successful club behind B67, who have won it 13 times.
The tournament, which has been held in 10 cities, actually dates back to the mid-1950s & until recently used to be played on gravel pitches.
They are the 2nd-most successful club behind B67, who have won it 13 times.
The tournament, which has been held in 10 cities, actually dates back to the mid-1950s & until recently used to be played on gravel pitches.
But there are now full-sized AstroTurf pitches in 13 cities across the island, Meinel explained in our 2021 interview.
Greenland is unable to support grass pitches due to the climate, hence the artificial turf pitches, built with assistance from the Danish FA & FIFA.
Greenland is unable to support grass pitches due to the climate, hence the artificial turf pitches, built with assistance from the Danish FA & FIFA.
What about the national team?
Greenland is currently not a member of UEFA or FIFA - in part for infrastructural reasons, but also because the statutes stipulate that membership in the organisations is only open to countries recognised by the United Nations as independent states.
Greenland is currently not a member of UEFA or FIFA - in part for infrastructural reasons, but also because the statutes stipulate that membership in the organisations is only open to countries recognised by the United Nations as independent states.
That seems a little bit unfair given that the Faroe Islands, also a part of Denmark, have both FIFA (1988) & UEFA (1990) membership.
That's because they applied for membership before the rule change took effect. The same applies to Gibraltar, which applied in the late 1990s.
That's because they applied for membership before the rule change took effect. The same applies to Gibraltar, which applied in the late 1990s.
So what can Greenland do internationally?
It has previously competed in the Island Games, for example, a tournament involving non-sovereign territories of European nations.
Previous participants include the likes of Åland, Shetland, Jersey, Isle of Man, Rhodes & Isle of Wight.
It has previously competed in the Island Games, for example, a tournament involving non-sovereign territories of European nations.
Previous participants include the likes of Åland, Shetland, Jersey, Isle of Man, Rhodes & Isle of Wight.
But is that a viable solution?
"It's no secret we'd like to be part of the international football family in FIFA," Meinel said in 2021.
Tekle Ghebrelul, the ex B67 & national team coach, told us: “My dream is to see Greenland become a UEFA & FIFA member, like 🇬🇮 & 🇫🇴.”
"It's no secret we'd like to be part of the international football family in FIFA," Meinel said in 2021.
Tekle Ghebrelul, the ex B67 & national team coach, told us: “My dream is to see Greenland become a UEFA & FIFA member, like 🇬🇮 & 🇫🇴.”
Quick tangent: Ghebrelul’s story is both tragic & inspirational in equal measure.
After being forced to fight in the Eritrean War of Independence as a child, he spent some time in prison before coming to Europe, marrying a Dane & one day stumbling on an article about Greenland.
After being forced to fight in the Eritrean War of Independence as a child, he spent some time in prison before coming to Europe, marrying a Dane & one day stumbling on an article about Greenland.
Having initially moved to North Greenland, Ghebrelul’s wife insisted they relocate to the capital, Nuuk, a city of around 17,000 people.
It was there he became the B67 head coach & guided the team through one of the most successful periods in their history – but back to the NT.
It was there he became the B67 head coach & guided the team through one of the most successful periods in their history – but back to the NT.
In May 2022, it was announced Greenland had begun the process of becoming a CONCACAF member.
Greenland’s geographic location straddling two continents makes this possible, but without a stadium complying with international standards, home games may have to take place elsewhere.
Greenland’s geographic location straddling two continents makes this possible, but without a stadium complying with international standards, home games may have to take place elsewhere.
In the meantime, Greenland continues to play futsal. A decision was reached in 2014 that the Greenland FA should focus on futsal.
“I think it’s very correct to do that,” Meinel said. “When we have such a long period indoors, it’s very important we keep our fitness levels up.”
“I think it’s very correct to do that,” Meinel said. “When we have such a long period indoors, it’s very important we keep our fitness levels up.”
But that will take a back seat this week, as crowds perch on the rocky hillsides around the stadium to take in the first football tournament in 3 years.
Will it be another title for B67, will Nagdlunguaq-48 retain their crown, or will there be an upset? It will soon be revealed.
Will it be another title for B67, will Nagdlunguaq-48 retain their crown, or will there be an upset? It will soon be revealed.
If you enjoyed this thread, please retweet & share it with followers & friends; threads take HOURS to compile & a share really helps us grow.
You can also listen to the interviews with Finn Meinel & Tekle Ghebrelul in our podcast episode from July 2021: bit.ly/SweeperJuly2021
You can also listen to the interviews with Finn Meinel & Tekle Ghebrelul in our podcast episode from July 2021: bit.ly/SweeperJuly2021
Honourable mentions also to @paul_c_watson's great @FourFourTwo article from 2016 & @PatsFballBlog, which we used as sources to compile this thread.
Photo credits 📷
Fifa
Visit Greenland
World Atlas
Ray Swi-hymn via Wiki Commons
SCMP
KAK
Bjarni Enghamar
Morten Rutkjær
Greenland-travel
22Bet
Fifa
Visit Greenland
World Atlas
Ray Swi-hymn via Wiki Commons
SCMP
KAK
Bjarni Enghamar
Morten Rutkjær
Greenland-travel
22Bet
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
