23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Soccer Dreams on the Edge of the Arctic

In Greenland, soccer is a warm heartbeat in the Arctic cold. Kids grow up chasing dreams across frozen pitches, knowing their nation can’t play on the world stage. But that never stopped them. Here, hope is bigger than any rulebook, and every kick is a quiet protest that says: we belong in the game.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2025
Date Uploaded: 12.2025
Photo Location: Qeqertarsuaq, Greenland
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Copyright: © Erika Valkovicova