FIFA addresses Crimea map error in World Cup draw.© (@timkmak )
Fifa has expressed its “sincere regret” after a map displayed during the 2026 World Cup qualifying draw appeared to exclude Crimea from Ukraine. The map, used to highlight nations that cannot be drawn against each other for geopolitical reasons, showed Ukraine but omitted Crimea, a region internationally recognized as part of Ukraine despite being under Russian occupation since 2014. Only a small number of countries acknowledge Crimea as Russian territory.
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In response to the incident, Fifa sent a formal letter to the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) general secretary, Igor Gryshchenko. Fifa chief member associations officer Elkhan Mammadov acknowledged the oversight, stating, “We fully understand the delicate sensitivity of this matter, and while the incident was unintentional, we sincerely regret any concern it may have caused.”
Fifa clarified that an external third-party service provider created the problematic graphic. The governing body has taken immediate steps to address the issue, including removing the image from circulation and conducting an internal review to prevent similar mistakes in the future.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry, however, has demanded a public apology. Spokesman Heorhiy Tykhy criticized Fifa, writing on X that the organization “not only acted against international law, but also supported Russian propaganda, war crimes, and the crime of aggression against Ukraine.”
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This controversy unfolded as Ukraine was drawn into Group D of the World Cup qualifiers, alongside Iceland, Azerbaijan, and the winner of the Nations League quarter-final between France and Croatia. The 2026 World Cup, which features an expanded format with 48 teams, will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
