Greenland national football team facts for kids
| Nickname(s) | Polar-Bamserne (The Polar Teddy Bears) |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Football Association of Greenland (KAK) | ||
| Head coach | Morten Rutkjær | ||
| Captain | Patrick Frederiksen | ||
| Most caps | Anders H. Petersen (26) | ||
| Top scorer | Norsaq Lund Mathæussen (9) | ||
| Home stadium | Nuuk Stadium | ||
| FIFA code | GRL | ||
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| Elo ranking | |||
| Current | 196  1 (3 March 2019) |
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| Highest | 186 (July 1980) | ||
| Lowest | 203 (June 1993) | ||
| First international | |||
 Faroe Islands 6–0 Greenland  (Sauðárkrókur, Iceland; 2 July 1980) |
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| Biggest win | |||
Greenland 16–0 Sark  (Saint Martin, Guernsey; 1 July 2003) |
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| Biggest defeat | |||
| Faroe Islands 6–0 Greenland (Sauðárkrókur, Iceland; 2 July 1980) Greenland 0–6 Guernsey  (Stromness, Shetland; 13 July 2005)  Menorca 6–0 Greenland (Sund, Åland; 29 June 2009) Greenland 0–6 Isle of Man  (Visby, Gotland; 30 June 2017) |
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| Island Games | |||
| Appearances | 15 (first in 1989) | ||
| Best result | Runners-up (2013, 2017) | ||
| Greenland Cup | |||
| Appearances | 3 (first in 1980) | ||
| Best result | Runners-up (1983) | ||
| ELF Cup | |||
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2006) | ||
| Best result | Group stage (2006) | ||
The Greenland national football team represents Greenland in international football games. It is controlled by the Football Association of Greenland. This team is often called Polar-Bamserne, which means "The Polar Teddy Bears".
Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, just like the Faroe Islands. However, unlike the Faroe Islands national football team, Greenland is not a member of FIFA. This means they cannot play in big tournaments like the Football World Cup. Most of their games have been against the Faroe Islands and Iceland. These games are not considered official international matches by those teams. In May 2024, Greenland applied to join CONCACAF, a major football group. However, their application was rejected in June 2025.
Contents
About the Team
Team History
The Football Association of Greenland was started in 1971. Its goal was to help football grow in Greenland. Before that, a championship for clubs across the island had been held since 1954.
Greenland played its first international match on July 2, 1980. They played against the Faroe Islands, another Danish territory. Greenland lost that game 6–0. This match was part of a friendly tournament called the Greenland Cup in Iceland. In their second game on July 3, Greenland played against Iceland, who were full FIFA members. Greenland lost 4–1 and finished third in the tournament.
Three years later, Greenland hosted the second Greenland Cup in 1983. This time, it was just one match between Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The game in Nuuk ended 0–0. So, they played again a few days later, and the Faroe Islands won 3–2.
The third and last Greenland Cup was played in the Faroe Islands in 1984. Iceland also joined again. Greenland lost 1–0 to Iceland and then 1–0 to the Faroe Islands. They finished third, just like in 1980.
Greenland is a member of the International Island Games Association. They have played in the Football at the Island Games. They also played against the Tibet team in 2001. Greenland won that match 4–1.
Joining International Football
Greenland has wanted to join bigger football groups since at least 1998. One big problem is that natural grass fields are very hard to grow in Greenland. FIFA has strict rules about playing fields.
However, FIFA approved FieldTurf, which is artificial grass. This means Greenland can build fields that meet FIFA's standards. The first artificial turf field in Greenland was finished in Qaqortoq in September 2009. In September 2010, FIFA president Sepp Blatter visited Qaqortoq. He approved the new field. This was a big step for Greenland to become a FIFA member.
In 2014, the Danish Football Association (DBU) and Greenland's GBU started working together. Their goal was for Greenland to join UEFA and FIFA by 2020. The DBU offered money to help replace clay fields with artificial turf in Greenland's towns. In May 2015, the government also set aside money to plan a new covered stadium in Nuuk. The first artificial pitch was laid in Nuuk in June 2015. Another was laid at the national stadium in July 2016.
To join FIFA, Greenland first needs to be part of a continental football group. UEFA (Europe) or CONCACAF (North and Central America) are the most likely options. UEFA usually requires new members to be fully independent countries.
In May 2022, Greenland officially started the process to join CONCACAF. They planned to submit their official application by 2024 or 2025. The same challenges, like not having enough good football fields, were expected to make the process take longer. The team also looked for players in Denmark who have Greenlandic family roots.
Kenneth Kleist became the new president of the KAK in October 2023. He said the association planned to apply for full CONCACAF membership in 2024. They hoped to submit the application on June 21, Greenland National Day. He also said they were told they were "quite close to admission." On May 13, 2024, the Football Association of Greenland officially applied to become the 42nd member of CONCACAF. They played a game against Turkmenistan the next month and lost 0-5.
The federation was supposed to meet with CONCACAF in Miami in early 2025. However, the meeting was delayed. It was then expected to be held in London. Greenland also announced a friendly game against the Tuvalu national team later in 2025. This game was meant to raise awareness about climate change. Tuvalu is a low-lying island that could be lost to rising sea levels, while Greenland is where ice is melting, causing those levels to rise. Greenland's CONCACAF application was rejected in June 2025.
Team Home and Kit
Stadium
The team plays its home games at Nuuk Stadium in Nuuk, Greenland's capital city. There is a plan for a new national stadium called Arktisk Stadion. This new stadium would meet the rules for international football groups.
Kit
As of July 2020, Greenland's football uniforms are made by an Italian sportswear company called Macron.
Recent Games
2023 Matches
| 9 July 2023 2023 Island Games | Orkney  |
2–2 (3–4 p) |
Greenland |
Saint Martin, Guernsey |
| 10:30 UTC+1 |
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Stadium: Blanche Pierre Lane |
| 10 July 2023 2023 Island Games | Greenland |
2–0 |  Frøya |
Saint Sampson, Guernsey |
| 10:30 UTC+1 |
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Stadium: Northfield Stadium |
| 11 July 2023 2023 Island Games | Greenland |
2–3 |  Bermuda U23 |
Saint Sampson, Guernsey |
Thomsen  72', 79' |
Bean 6' Russel 62'Hall 81' |
Stadium: The Corbet Field |
| 13 July 2023 2023 Island Games | Shetland  |
5–1 | Greenland |
Saint Sampson, Guernsey |
| Grant 11', 49', 66' Aitken 59'Laurenson 62' |
Thomsen 49' |
Stadium: The Corbet Field |
2024 Matches
| 1 June Friendly | Turkmenistan  |
5–0 | Greenland |
Antalya, Turkey |
| 16:00 UTC+3 |
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Stadium: Sense De Luxe Hotel Stadium |
| 3 June Unofficial friendly | Kalekapısı  |
0–9 | Greenland |
Antalya, Turkey |
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| 5 June Unofficial friendly | Antalya 1863 |
1–7 | Greenland |
Antalya, Turkey |
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Upcoming 2025 Matches
| 1 June Friendly | Skærbæk Boldklub  |
2–1 | Greenland |
Skærbæk, Denmark |
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| June Friendly | Greenland |
v |  TSV Kropp |
Team Staff
Current Coaching Staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Morten Rutkjær |
| Coaching staff | Nukannguaq Zeeb
Morten Hamm
Mikkel Kvist Willumsen |
| Physiotherapist(s) | Steen Cortsen |
Manager History
| No. | Name | Period |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niels Møller |
1977–1980 |
| 2 | Uvdlo Jakobsen
Elisaeus Kreutzmann |
1983 |
| 3 | Lars Lundblad |
1984–1986 |
| 4 | Simon Simonsen |
1989–1991 |
| 5 | Isak Nielsen Kleist |
1993–1995 |
| 6 | Ulf Abrahamsen |
1996 |
| 7 | Lars Olsvig
Jens Jorgen Egede |
1997–1999 |
| 8 | Sepp Piontek |
2000–2002 |
| 9 | Jens Tang Olesen
Kristian Lyberth |
2003–2004 |
| 10 | Sepp Piontek |
2004 |
| 11 | Jens Tang Olesen
Hans Frederik Olsen |
2004–2010 |
| 12 | René Olsen
→ Tønnes Berthelsen (co-manager)
→  Tekle Ghebrelul (co-manager) |
2010–2019
2010–2012 2013–2019 |
| 13 | Morten Rutkjær |
2020–present |
Players
Current Squad
- These players were chosen for the 2023 Island Games. Their caps (games played) and goals are from September 23, 2022, after a match against Kosovo U21.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Brian Rosing Kleist | 28 November 1994 | B-67 Nuuk |
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| 16 | GK | Peter Berthelsen | 29 January 2000 | Nagdlunguaq-48 |
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| 3 | DF | Morten Fleischer | 6 March 1990 | B-67 Nuuk |
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| 4 | DF | Adam Ejler | 13 January 2004 | Holbæk B&I |
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| 5 | DF | Nuukanguaq Zeeb | 9 July 1982 | Disko-76 |
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| 6 | DF | Katu Madsen | 4 June 1987 | Inuit Timersoqatigiiffiat-79 |
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| 13 | DF | Kunuuteeraq Isaksen | 28 October 1995 | Nagdlunguaq-48 |
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| 14 | DF | Mika Thyssen | 28 November 1996 | Inuit Timersoqatigiiffiat-79 |
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| 19 | DF | Morten Nystrup | 31 August 1996 | B-67 Nuuk |
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| 2 | MF | Nikki Petersen | 6 February 1992 | B-67 Nuuk |
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| 7 | MF | Søren Kristiansen | 6 July 1996 | UB-83 Upernavik |
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| 8 | MF | Ari Hermann | 6 September 1997 | B-67 Nuuk |
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| 10 | MF | Rene Eriksen Petersen | 11 June 2001 | Klaksvik |
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| 12 | MF | Mathias Christensen | 10 November 2001 | FC Helsingør |
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| 17 | MF | Karsten Møller Andersen | 28 November 1999 | B-67 Nuuk |
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| 9 | FW | John-Ludvig Broberg | 19 November 1990 | B-67 Nuuk |
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| 11 | FW | Nemo Thomsen | 5 April 2004 | Holbæk B&I |
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| 15 | FW | Søren Kreutzmann | 5 December 1994 | B-67 Nuuk |
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| 18 | FW | Niels-Erik Eriksen | 29 May 1986 | G-44 Qeqertarsuaq |
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Player Records
Players in bold are still playing for Greenland.
Most Games Played
| Rank | Name | Caps | Goals | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anders H. Petersen | 26 | 7 | 2001–2017 |
| 2 | Aputsiaq Birch | 19 | 0 | 2005–2017 |
| 3 | John Rasmus Eldevig | 18 | 1 | 2003–2013 |
| 4 | Maasi Maqe | 16 | 1 | 2009–2015 |
| John-Ludvig Broberg | 16 | 6 | 2011–present | |
| 6 | Kaali Lund Mathæussen | 15 | 4 | 2009–2017 |
| 7 | Norsaq Lund Mathæussen | 14 | 9 | 2011–2017 |
| Peri Fleischer | 4 | 2003–2009 | ||
| Niklas Kreutzmann | 4 | 2003–2006 | ||
| Kaassannguaq Zeeb | 1 | 2005–2015 | ||
| Nukannguaq Zeeb | 1 | 2011–2023 |
Top Goal Scorers
| Rank | Name | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norsaq Lund Mathæussen | 9 | 14 | 0.64 | 2011–2017 |
| 2 | Jan Nielsen | 8 | 12 | 0.67 | 2000–2010 |
| 3 | Vitus Kofoed | 7 | 4 | 1.75 | 2003 |
| Anders H. Petersen | 26 | 0.26 | 2001–2017 | ||
| 5 | Nemo Thomsen | 6 | 5 | 1.2 | 2020–present |
| Pavia Mølgaard | 6 | 1 | 2009–2011 | ||
| John-Ludvig Broberg | 16 | 0.38 | 2011–present | ||
| 8 | Leifeeraq Karlsen | 5 | 9 | 0.56 | 2003–2005 |
| 9 | Peri Fleischer | 4 | 14 | 0.29 | 2003–2009 |
| Niklas Kreutzmann | 14 | 0.29 | 2003–2006 | ||
| Kaali Lund Mathæussen | 15 | 0.27 | 2009–2017 |
Tournament Records
Island Games
Champion Runners-up 3rd Place
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Greenland Cup Record
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Other Tournaments
Greenland has also played in other special tournaments for teams not part of FIFA.
- FIFI Wild Cup: In 2006, Greenland played in the FIFI Wild Cup. They lost both their games and were knocked out early.
- ELF Cup: In 2006, Greenland played in the ELF Cup. They won one game, drew one, and lost one. They did not make it past the first round.
Head-to-Head Records
As of June 1, 2024
| Opponent | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIFA Members | ||||||||
| Bermuda |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 0.00 |
| Faroe Islands |
7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 20 | −14 | 0.00 |
 Gibraltar |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 7 | +0 | 50.00 |
 Iceland |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 0.00 |
| Turkmenistan |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | −5 | 0.00 |
| Total FIFA | 15 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 14 | 41 | −27 | 13.33 |
| Non-FIFA Members | ||||||||
 Åland |
6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 17 | −7 | 16.67 |
 Alderney |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 100.00 |
| Bermuda U23 |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 0.00 |
 Falkland Islands |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | +13 | 100.00 |
| Frøya |
5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 5 | +15 | 60.00 |
 Găgăuzia |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 100.00 |
 Gotland |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 12 | −4 | 50.00 |
| Guernsey |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | −6 | 0.00 |
| Isle of Man |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 50.00 |
 Isle of Wight |
6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 14 | −6 | 33.33 |
 Jersey |
5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 18 | −8 | 0.00 |
 Kosovo U21 |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0.00 |
 Kyrgyzstan (futsal) |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0.00 |
| Menorca |
4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 12 | −7 | 0.00 |
 Northern Cyprus |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0.00 |
| Orkney |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 50.00 |
 Rhodes |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 0.00 |
 Saare County |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 100.00 |
 Sápmi |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 0.00 |
| Sark |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | +16 | 100.00 |
| Shetland |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 12 | −2 | 50.00 |
 Tibet |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 100.00 |
 Western Isles |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 66.67 |
 Ynys Môn |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 25.00 |
 Zanzibar |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 0.00 |
| Zanzibar U20 |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +0 | 0.00 |
| Total non FIFA | 66 | 24 | 9 | 33 | 142 | 137 | +5 | 36.36 |
| Total | 81 | 26 | 10 | 45 | 156 | 178 | −22 | 32.10 |
Awards and Achievements
Non-FIFA Competitions
- Island Games
- Silver medal (2): 2013, 2017
Friendly Tournaments
- Greenland Cup
- Runners-up (1): 1983
- Third place (2): 1980, 1984
See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Groenlandia para niños
- Football in Greenland
- Greenland Cup
- Greenlandic Football Championship
- Sport in Greenland
