COPENHAGEN: Greenland’s Football Association will send a delegation to the United States next month to begin talks on entering the central and North American confederation.

The Arctic island, which is being sized up by new United States President Donald Trump, has never formally existed or competed internationally but last May applied for membership of CONCACAF.

Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory under Denmark but counts geographically among the North American continent and has always been rebuffed in applications by European federation UEFA.

Now, Reuters is reporting Greenland that FA president Kenneth Kleist has been invited by CONCACAF general secretary Philippe Moggio for a meeting on February 27 in Miami.

UEFA members must be recognised as fully independent by the United Nations but CONCACAF allows autonomous territories to join though this does not secure FIFA adherence.

The meeting will take place at a time of renewed U.S. interest in the strategically important island and amid an increasing desire for independence from Denmark among the island’s population of just 57,000.

The world’s biggest island, with only 18 football pitches, would be the 42nd member of the continental association if approved. The outdoor season on the Arctic island runs from May to August.

The national team is made up of amateurs playing only friendlies. Greenland is planning three matches later this year against smaller CONCACAF nations.

National coach Morten Rutkjer said: “It’s about standing tall and showing that the Greenlandic people are capable and brave enough to take on the big guys. There is significant interest in playing against us from several major football nations.”

############