FIFA has issued a formal apology to the Ukrainian Soccer Federation for the depiction of a map during the World Cup qualifying draw that excluded Crimea, a territory currently under Russian occupation.
Elkhan Mammadov, FIFA's chief member association officer, stated in a letter released Sunday by the Ukrainian Football Association that the organization fully acknowledges the sensitivity of this matter and, while unintentional, deeply regrets any resulting distress.
Ukraine was among the 54 national teams that participated in the draw held in Zurich for the European qualifying groups for the 2026 World Cup. Russia, which has been barred from FIFA competitions due to its military actions in Ukraine, has unlawfully occupied Crimea since 2014. During the draw event at FIFA headquarters, the peninsula was not represented as part of Ukrainian territory in the graphic displayed.
"Are you alright, (at)FIFAcom?" Ukraine government spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi commented on Saturday via the social media platform X, adding, "We have corrected the map for you and anticipate a public apology."
Mammadov noted that the map was supplied by an external vendor and that FIFA is currently assessing measures to prevent such errors in the future.
Ukraine has been placed in a qualifying group with either France or Croatia, along with Iceland and Azerbaijan. The group winner will secure a direct spot in the World Cup, which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, while the runner-up will enter a playoff in March 2026.
In February 2022, FIFA and UEFA prohibited Russian teams from participating in international competitions, citing anticipated disruptions due to the refusal of some European federations to compete against Russia.