Why Europe’s two eligible countries choose not to join UEFA | Monaco & Vatican City
The Sweeper - A World Football PodcastShow Notes
UEFA has not added to its 55 members in a decade – the longest time between new additions since San Marino joined in 1988 – though it has not been for a lack of trying.
Greenland have been desperate for competitive football and Jersey have even taken their case to court, but are both regarded as ineligible. Meanwhile, the two countries that do fulfil the current criteria – Monaco and Vatican City – appear to have no interest in joining.
So what exactly are the rules for becoming a UEFA member? Why do Monaco and the Vatican choose not to join? How did it go when the Pope talked with president Aleksander Čeferin about potential Vatican membership? And why does Monaco stay away from the European football family despite being home to a former UCL finalist?
Plus, the Iberian dispute that changed the rules on membership forever and the other contenders to become the 56th member of UEFA.
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Listen to the Greenland episode with Nick Miller from June 2025 here.
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
00:50 – Rules on UEFA membership
05:12 – Monaco: Unwilling to gamble?
10:20 – Vatican City: A papal intervention
13:30 – Other contenders for 56th member
15:09 – Jersey: Victory at CAS
17:33 – Greenland: Nowhere to turn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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