Originally published by Kelly Frost for the Jersey Evening Post on 18 May 2024.
COULD Jersey host next year’s non-FIFA World Cup? It’s a compelling question, and a question that Danny Clarke of Unrepresented Sports asked earlier this week on social media. And it was a question that JEP Sport asked Clarke after tracking down the director of the recently-formed organisation which arranges the Unrepresented World Cup. Giving a platform to many teams currently without a chance to play competitively, the new non-FIFA tournament is set to replace the CONIFA World Cup, which was held every two years from 2014 to 2018.
The 2020 iteration, due to be hosted in North Macedonia, was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic, and nothing took its place. Clarke’s brainchild Unrepresented Sports has stepped in to fill that gap, hoping to bring together teams such as Greenland, Quebec, Tibet, Somaliland and the other Crown Dependencies and Island nations which have been unable to join FIFA or UEFA for the inaugural Unrepresented World Cup in 2025. Jersey was one of those unfortunate teams denied the opportunity to join UEFA or FIFA, and has now set its sights on non-FIFA football, Clarke said.
And despite qualifying for the 2020 tournament, Jersey has never featured at a World Cup. But could the Island – a previous Island Games host in 2015 – not only play in the new tournament, but be its host? Clarke said there were two potential host locations at the moment – Jersey and London. “It’s a case of who gives us what we need to cover the cost,” Clarke explained. He said: “We’re trying to start this conversation at the moment, with the help of some local Jersey players. “Jersey would be the perfect place to host the tournament. It would be a fantastic opportunity to play there, and there are already the facilities. If the Island gets behind it, and we’ve got the interest, then it’s about the funding.
“I’ve visited the Island a few times, and having supported the Jersey Bulls and got to know some players, you get a good feel for the Island. “You can see how much potential there is, and it has been almost a
decade since Jersey hosted the Island Games, so there hasn’t been this kind of eye-catching international tournament on the Island for a while. This could be a trial event for the Island to see how they handle
these sorts of numbers, teams and tourism.
“Tourism is a very strong aspect of it and, of course, the Muratti will be held in Guernsey next year, which leaves the Island open. “We’re in this position where we can bring a World Cup to Jersey, or
Jersey to a World Cup, we just need the authorities to play ball and we need to source the funding.” Clarke continued: “There are a lot of teams at the moment who want a World Cup, but there isn’t an
opportunity, because of CONIFA’s shortcomings. “We have given it another shot, because we think lots of teams want to get involved. Over 20 teams have been in touch, and we’ve got only eight places to go, so we’ll soon be in an awkward position where we’ll have to turn people down. “So far, we have one team from every continent, some of whom have played in non-FIFA World Cups. If we can speak to the right people and make sure we can get it funded, we’ll have a tournament next summer.”
It’s a big if from Clarke. Minister for Sport, Andy Jehan, are you listening?
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