The goalposts at Greenland’s national soccer stadium in Nuuk are barely visible, buried in 1.5m of snow.
The arctic island’s team, embodying national pride and a beacon of hope for international recognition, has relocated to an indoor sports arena for training.
“It’s actually quite fun to play football in the snow,” said national team captain Karsten Moller Andersen, reminiscing about his childhood in southern Greenland.
Photo: AFP
With 20 artificial pitches spread across the expansive island, the roughly 5,500 active players can only play outdoors for four months of the year due to the harsh climate.
The national team, comprising students and amateurs with day jobs, gather every summer in Nuuk for training. They play friendlies against second or third-tier teams from Denmark, and last year played a friendly match versus Turkmenistan.
“We can be quite aggressive when we play; we have this hunger,” Andersen said. “Then outside the pitch, we just have fun and laugh.”
Photo: AFP
Greenland’s football association (KAK) has battled funding challenges for years, complicating its efforts to join major soccer organizations such as UEFA or FIFA.
The KAK is seeking membership of CONCACAF as an alternative path to international competition.
“It would mean a lot to Greenland, because the national pride we have in Greenland is — without it getting too political — something we have a hard time expressing,” said KAK chief Kenneth Kleist, referring to Greenland’s status as part of Denmark.
The KAK is endeavoring to secure funding to build airdomes, which would allow year-round soccer.
“My biggest dream is that one day Greenland will finally make it to the international stage, like play a qualification for the [FIFA] World Cup and maybe even qualify for the World Cup,” said Patrick Frederiksen, Greenland’s cocaptain.
This week Greenland are playing a futsal tournament that also includes Iran, Afghanistan and Brazil.
“Now finally we’re kind of achieving those dreams, playing against Brazil. This is a huge moment for us,” said Frederiksen, wearing their light blue away shirt inspired by Greenland’s ice sheet.
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