Why doesn't the UK enter the World Cup as the UK? (football, English)

[solibs]

Great Britain is the island which includes England, Scotland and Wales (nations with their own histories, flags, languages, etc.)

The United Kingdom is the State which is comprised of the nations of Great Britain plus Northern Ireland (and i suppose all their overseas territories as well - Bermuda, Virgin Islands, etc.)

"British" is the demonym used to describe the people who live there.

[Dopo]

If you defend England playing as a country,
then you should also defend Catalunya (Barcelona) playing as a country in the World Cup.

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by solibs

Great Britain is the island which includes England, Scotland and Wales (nations with their own histories, flags, languages, etc.)

The United Kingdom is the State which is comprised of the nations of Great Britain plus Northern Ireland (and i suppose all their overseas territories as well - Bermuda, Virgin Islands, etc.)

"British" is the demonym used to describe the people who live there.

But someone that is from Northern Ireland or Bermuda is not British. So British would not necessary be used to describe people from the UK.

[AuburnAL]

Scotland and England were historically separate kingdoms ie separate nation-states. Even as far back as Roman times Hadrian's Wall was built to separate Scotland which was unconquered from the areaas of Great Britain that Rome ruled (England and Wales). As one person came to often occupy both thrones, and as the English were numerically and economically superior enough to boss everyone else around the two joined in the Union Act to become the United Kingdom. Wales was historically just a bit of land than the Romans walled off for a time from the part of Britain they ruled though later on they conquered it. Then England was like, "Oh well we'll say the heir to our throne is the Prince of Wales since it isn't a kingdom, and its not like the Welsh can stop us."

Obviously that's not entirely accurate, but it gives you a general idea of what happened.

Anyways the point being that England and Scotland having separate teams is a bit like each state in the US having its own national team, but they do it anyways. It's actually bit more odd that they compete on one team in the Olympics since they compete separately everywhere else.

[Dr. Foosball]

Originally Posted by Dopo

If you think that's crazy,
you should see the list of countries that FIFA (soccer federation) doesn't recognize.

Viva World Cup Gives Lesser Known Countries a Chance to Compete - World Cup - NESN.com

I don't see any countries listed in that article. Kingdom of Two Sicilies? Gozo? Padania? Iraqi Kurdistan? Those aren't countries.

[AuburnAL]

The Kingdom of Two Sicilies used to be a country at least. Kurdistan never has been, and I've never heard of the other two. I wonder if the CSA has a team in that competition.

[Jaggy001]

Originally Posted by solibs

Great Britain is the island which includes England, Scotland and Wales (nations with their own histories, flags, languages, etc.)

The United Kingdom is the State which is comprised of the nations of Great Britain plus Northern Ireland (and i suppose all their overseas territories as well - Bermuda, Virgin Islands, etc.)

"British" is the demonym used to describe the people who live there.

The United Kingdom represents the kingdoms of Scotland and England. Wales is a Principality of the English crown, not a kingdom, and Northern Ireland is a province, not a kingdom. The other territories have various status but are not kingdoms.

Scotland and England were joined by an international treaty (1707). Many of the legal differences between Scotland and England (law, education, religion) reflect the fact that they are constitutionally separate countries.

[Jaggy001]

Originally Posted by AuburnAL

Scotland and England were historically separate kingdoms ie separate nation-states. Even as far back as Roman times Hadrian's Wall was built to separate Scotland which was unconquered from the areaas of Great Britain that Rome ruled (England and Wales). As one person came to often occupy both thrones, and as the English were numerically and economically superior enough to boss everyone else around the two joined in the Union Act to become the United Kingdom. Wales was historically just a bit of land than the Romans walled off for a time from the part of Britain they ruled though later on they conquered it. Then England was like, "Oh well we'll say the heir to our throne is the Prince of Wales since it isn't a kingdom, and its not like the Welsh can stop us."

Obviously that's not entirely accurate, but it gives you a general idea of what happened.

Anyways the point being that England and Scotland having separate teams is a bit like each state in the US having its own national team, but they do it anyways. It's actually bit more odd that they compete on one team in the Olympics since they compete separately everywhere else.

Actually, we built the wall to keep the English out

The Union of the Crowns was in 1601 when James VI of Scotland also became James I of England. There may have been more of the English but that never stopped the Scots from taking over

[yankinscotland]

Originally Posted by Jaggy001

Actually, we built the wall to keep the English out

The Union of the Crowns was in 1601 when James VI of Scotland also became James I of England. There may have been more of the English but that never stopped the Scots from taking over

Aye!

[krudmonk]

Several French overseas territories have their own national teams, too. Big deal. The real story is that England is so deplorable that people in the same country won't play with them.