Tapped points out that the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and other territories are "countries" eligible for the World Cup, even though those places lack national sovereignty. Tapped goes on to ask "What is FIFA up to? And the best question of all: If FIFA is trying to subtly undercut lingering U.S. colonialism, why not give Washington, D.C. a soccer team as well?"
It's actually more interesting than that. For example, England and Scotland have World Cup teams, but so do Wales (not independent since the 14th Century or so) and Northern Ireland (which isn't a nation or country -- it's arguably part of two countries). Palestine has a team, so does Taiwan ("Chinese Taipei") and the British Virgin Islands.
So the real question is: what about the Basques? The Bretons? Texas? Quebec? Staten Island? The San Fernando Valley? Does Hong Kong deserve separate status more than the Walloons? I think not.