FIFA has apologized to the Ukrainian soccer federation for displaying a map during its World Cup qualifying draw that excluded Russia-occupied Crimea from the country's territory.

World football's governing body has removed the image omitting Crimea from Ukrainian territory, which Kyiv called an "unacceptable error". View on euronews

FIFA has responded to the letter from the UAF regarding the display of a map of Ukraine without the Crimean peninsula during the draw for the 2026 World Cup.It

A map shown during the draw for the 2026 Fifa World Cup has been criticised by Ukraine as an "unacceptable error" after it appeared to exclude Crimea as part of the country. The graphic - showing countries that cannot be drawn to play each other for geopolitical reasons - highlighted Ukraine but did not include the peninsula that is internationally recognised to be part of it.

The International Football Federation (FIFA) announced that the map shown in the broadcast of the draw for the European qualification for the 2026 World Cup, on which Crimea is not part of Ukraine, was provided by an external contractor.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has long vowed to end Russia's occupation of Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

The organization displayed a map during a qualifying draw that showed Ukraine without including Crimea as part of the country,

FIFA has issued a brief and general comment regarding the map displayed during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying draw broadcast. The comment is very short and general and does not contain a hint of apology.

Football's world governing body FIFA says it regrets the fact a map showing Crimea as part of Russia was broadcast during its 2026 World Cup qualifying draw on Friday. Ukraine had reacted furiously, with the Foreign Ministry demanding a public apology.