Ukraine has called on FIFA to issue a public apology after a map displayed during the European qualifiers draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup depicted Crimea as part of Russia.
The incident has sparked outrage, with Ukrainian officials accusing FIFA of undermining international law and supporting Russian propaganda.
The map in question appeared in a video segment shown before Friday’s World Cup qualifiers draw.
It inaccurately labeled Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, as part of Russian territory. The annexation is not recognized by the international community, and Ukraine continues to assert its sovereignty over Crimea.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko criticized FIFA’s actions, accusing the organization of violating international law and perpetuating Russian propaganda.
In a post on the platform X (formerly Twitter), Nikolenko demanded a formal apology, stating that FIFA’s actions indirectly supported war crimes and aggression against Ukraine.
In response to the backlash, FIFA confirmed that the map was removed from the video and that discussions were held with Ukrainian officials regarding the issue.
A FIFA spokesperson acknowledged the mistake and assured that steps had been taken to address the concerns.
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