In brief
Following a drawn map at the FIFA World Cup draw that omitted Crimea from Ukraine, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has called for an apology, arguing the act violates international law and supports Russian propaganda.
Ukraine is demanding an apology from FIFA after a map shown during the 2026 World Cup draw inaccurately excluded Crimea from Ukrainian territory. This graphic, which highlighted certain countries that cannot play each other due to geopolitical conflicts, sparked outrage as it failed to recognize Crimea as part of Ukraine—a region under Russian occupation since 2014. Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhy stated that Ukraine expects a public apology from FIFA, which has since acknowledged the mistake and removed the map. Tykhy criticized FIFA for “acting against international law” and accused the organization of endorsing Russian propaganda and war crimes. He proposed a corrected version of the map on X, illustrating Crimea appropriately within Ukrainian borders.In addition, the Ukrainian Football Association has formally expressed its discontent, addressing a letter to FIFA and UEFA officials. They underscored concerns over the depiction of Ukraine’s territory and highlighted the inconsistency in FIFA and UEFA’s positions given their previous resolutions regarding Crimea.The 2026 World Cup is set to take place from June 11 to July 19, featuring an expanded 48-team format. Ukraine will compete in Group D alongside Iceland, Azerbaijan, and another team to be determined from the Nations League quarter-finals.
