Did Lapland really win the World Cup? | The Knowledge Christmas special

We delve into the festive Knowledge archives. As ever, thanks for all your questions and answers through the year … we’ll be back on 3 January

As every child knows, Father Christmas lives in Lapland, surrounded by magical elves (a bit like Sergio Busquets at Barcelona). Less well-known is the story of Lapland’s World Cup triumph.

In 2003 the Nouvelle Fédération-Board was set up as the governing body of those regions, stateless people and unrecognised nations not permitted to join Fifa. Monaco, Occitania (comprising chunks of southern France, the Alps and Catalonia), and, yes, Lapland (or, more accurately, Sapmi) were among the founder members. Others – including the principality of Sealand, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Iraqi Kurdistan and a side representing the Aramean-Syriac people – have since joined their number.

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