CONIFA, the Confederation of Independent Football Associations, just announced the teams that have qualified for the World Football Cup in North Macedonia, June 2020. Teams from places like Metabeleland, Kabylia, Panjab, Cascadia and the Chagos Islands are overlooked by FIFA and will get a chance to win their place on a global stage in this alternative tournament.

The World Football Cup 2020 for de facto states and minority peoples will be held in Skopje, North Macedonia. The tournament will consist of 16 teams; the qualification period ends in December 2019. The event will take place from 30 May-7 June 2020.

What do you need to start your own country? Citizens, a flag, a national anthem? British comedian Danny Wallace tried to find out, and started his own micronation in his flat in London. His series was aired at the BBC in 2005.

What if you want to play football, but your territory is not recognized by FIFA? You can join CONIFA, the Confederation of Independent Football Associations, which has 58 members up to now. The next CONIFA World Foodball Cup will take place in 2020, but the location is still unknown after Somaliland was striped of hosting rights in August 2019.