The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has condemned FIFA for displaying a map that excluded Crimea during the World Cup draw, demanding a public apology for the oversight which they claim supports Russian propaganda. FIFA acknowledges the issue and has removed the offending image, while the Ukrainian Football Association has voiced its concerns formally.
Ukraine Demands FIFA Apology After Crimea Exclusion in World Cup Map
Ukraine Demands FIFA Apology After Crimea Exclusion in World Cup Map
FIFA faces backlash from Ukraine over a map that omits Crimea during the World Cup draw, as officials demand a public apology for an ‘unacceptable error.’
In a recent development that has sparked controversy, Ukraine has called for an official apology from FIFA after a map displayed during the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup failed to recognize Crimea as part of Ukrainian territory. The graphic, designed to indicate which countries cannot compete against each other for political reasons, highlighted Ukraine but conspicuously excluded the Crimean Peninsula, which has been under Russian control since 2014.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhy labeled the omission an "unacceptable error," emphasizing that FIFA's actions contradict international law and propagate Russian narratives surrounding the contentious region. He expressed hope for a public apology as well as corrective measures from FIFA.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Tykhy condemned the organization for "supporting Russian propaganda, war crimes, and the crime of aggression against Ukraine." Alongside his comments, he shared an amended version of the map that accurately reflected Crimea as Ukrainian territory.
The fallout from this incident extends beyond individual criticism, with the Ukrainian Football Association officially reaching out to FIFA Secretary-General Mathias Grafström and UEFA's Theodore Theodoridis. Their correspondence highlighted deep concerns regarding the map featured on December 13, 2024, calling it "completely unacceptable" and pointing to official FIFA and UEFA resolutions made since 2014 that affirm Crimea's status.
The upcoming World Cup, scheduled to unfold from June 11 to July 19, 2026, will take place in Mexico City and New Jersey, featuring an expanded format of 48 teams over 39 days. Ukraine has been drawn into Group D along with Iceland and Azerbaijan, pending the outcome of a playoff between Croatia and France's Nations League quarter-final winners. The situation raises critical questions about representation and political messaging in global sporting events.
