A map displayed during the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw has been criticized by Ukraine as an “unacceptable error” after it appeared to exclude Crimea as part of the country.
The image – showing countries that cannot play against each other for geopolitical reasons – highlights Ukraine but does not include the peninsula that is internationally recognized as part of the country.
Crimea has been occupied by Russia since 2014 and only a few countries recognize the peninsula as Russian territory.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhy said the country expected “a public apology”.
FIFA said it was “aware of the problem” and the image had been removed.
Writing on X, Tykhy said that FIFA not only “acted contrary to international law” but also “supported Russian propaganda, war crimes and the crime of aggression against Ukraine”.
He added a “fixed” version of the map to his post, emphasizing that Crimea is part of Ukraine.
Among the countries that cannot play each other are Ukraine and Belarus, Spain and Gibraltar and Kosovo against Bosnia and Herzegovina or Serbia.
The Ukrainian Football Federation also sent a letter to FIFA secretary general Mathias Grafström and UEFA secretary general Theodore Theodoridis about this issue.
“We urge you to express our deep concerns about the infographic [shown] on December 13, 2024,” the letter said.
“Taking into account a number of official decisions and resolutions adopted by the FIFA Council and the UEFA Executive Committee since 2014… we emphasize that today’s version of the image of the map of Ukraine… is complete Totally unacceptable and looks like an inconsistent view of FIFA and UEFA.”
The 2026 World Cup will begin on June 11 of that year in Mexico City and end on July 19 in New Jersey.
The expanded 48-team tournament will last a record 39 days.
Ukraine were placed in Group D with Iceland, Azerbaijan and the yet-to-be-determined winner of France’s Nations League quarter-final against Croatia.
