World Cup of Unrecognized Nations

[rowan]

The Conifa World Cup (alternative World Cup for unrecognized nations) is great fun for me to follow in its political and cultural subplots and drama. The Isle of Man (Ellan Vannin) have stormed out over an inelligible player for Barawa (a Somali exile team in England, but NOT Somalilanders, they have their own side lets not get confused here). The Manx now want others to boycott!! Perhaps most striking for a "Magyar Derby" as the team of Hungarians in Romania, Szekely Land fell to the team of Hungarians in Ukraine, Karpatalja in the semi final. This could also be called the "Treaty of Trianon Derby" as that fateful treaty diminished Hungary in size and left Hungarians in large numbers outside their borders of Hungary proper. Curious this is not the first time two Hungarian diaspora teams have met in a Conifa tournament. Felvidek, who represent Hungarians in Slovakia beat Szekely Land 3-1 in 2015 in a smaller Conifa tournament. There's also Delvidek, which represents Hungarians in Serbia (in the Vojvodina region north of Belgrade). Delvidek has yet to play however. But in the future the possibility of the four lost Hungarian regions filling out an entire semi final bracket can't be ruled out. Would Viktor Orban attend if Conifa went all Magyar?? Meanwhile good luck to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus against Karpatjla in the final. The Turkish Cypriots were unlucky to fall in the semi final to Abkhazia (played in the Abkhaz's black sea capital of Sokhumi) two years ago. I imagine the final will be a home game for TRNC. There are tons of Turkish Cypriots living in the UK and especially in London. Here's to hoping Muzzy Izzet shows up!! I suspect the number of Carpathian Hungarians living in London is less but hopefully they get fans too.

http://www.theroonba.com/football/men/2018.html

[rowan]

Congratulations to, er, Kárpátalja

Carpathian Magyars got it done... the smallest of the 4 Hungarian regions outside Hungary to be registered with Conifa

Hard luck, Northern Cyprus. I had a lovely holiday there many years ago

09.06 Aveley (England) Matabeleland 1-0 Tamil Eelam CONIFA World Cup 13th Place Match
09.06 London (England) Koreans in Japan 1-1 Tibet
4-1 pens CONIFA World Cup 11th Place Match
09.06 Aveley (England) Abkhazia 2-0 Kabylia CONIFA World Cup 9th Place Match
09.06 London (England) Western Armenia 7-0 Barawa CONIFA World Cup 7th Place Match
09.06 London (England) Cascadia 3-3 Panjab
3-4 pens CONIFA World Cup 5th Place Match
09.06 London (England) Padania 0-0 Székely Land
5-4 pens CONIFA World Cup 3rd Place Match
09.06 London (England) Kárpátalja 0-0 Northern Cyprus
3-2 pens CONIFA World Cup Final

[rowan]

Just look at all those draws and penalty shootouts!

Glad that's one thing rugby doesn't have