Greenland’s CONCACAF rejection, Samsunspor’s smurf ultras & Cazorla’s hometown heroics

The Sweeper

In Part 1, Lee and Paul are joined by Nick Miller of The New York Times & The Athletic to discuss Greenland and the long road to international football. Why was the world’s largest island rejected by CONCACAF? How do you go about setting up an international football team? What unusual ploy did Kosovo put into action to aid their bid for UEFA membership? And why is Kiribati among the hardest places on earth to play the beautiful game?

In Part 2, it’s back to the club game with stories about the European club competition qualification rounds and the domestic leagues. How does exclave club Araz-Naxçıvan get to away games in Azerbaijan? Why are the ultras of Turkish team Samsunspor nicknamed Şirinler (The Smurfs)? What annual salary is Santi Cazorla paid at newly promoted Real Oviedo? And which European country has already got its 2025/26 season under way?

Read 'Geography, politics and admin: The long road to becoming an international football team' by Nick Miller: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6218449/2025/03/21/geography-politics-and-admin-the-long-road-to-becoming-an-international-football-team/

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Editor: Ralph Foster

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