Nation left fuming over ‘unacceptable error’ in World Cup map
One European nation has been left furious after FIFA released a map of the continent featuring a monumental blunder ahead of the World Cup.
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The Ukrainian Football Association sent a furious letter to FIFA and UEFA complaining about an “unacceptable error” during the World Cup qualifying draw.
Ukraine learnt who they will face to try and book their spot at the 2026 tournament in North America.
However, the country was left apoplectic following a map graphic depicting countries which could not cross borders to face each other - such as Ukraine and Belarus, Spain and Gibraltar and Kosovo versus either Bosnia and Herzegovina or Serbia, The Sun reports.
On it, though, the shaded Ukrainian region excluded the territory of Crimea.
The peninsula in the Black Sea - officially the Autonomous Republic of Crimea - is classed as an administrative division of Ukraine after previously being annexed by Russia in 2014.
Russia occupy the territory and have several military air bases stationed there during the war between the two nations, which has now claimed the lives or injured a million people since Vladimir Putin ordered the illegal invasion in February 2022.
Ukraine, though, continue to view the region as part of their country so they were understandably indignant following Friday’s draw.
And the Ukrainian Association of Football wrote to FIFA Secretary General Matthias Grafstrom and UEFA Secretary General Theodore Theodoridis to express their anger.
“We are writing to express our deep concern regarding the infographic map of Europe shown during the TV broadcast of the European Qualifiers draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 on December 13, 2024,” the letter read.
“The map, which indicated the countries unable to cross borders, highlighted the territory of Ukraine without the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
“Considering several official decisions and resolutions passed by the FIFA Council and the UEFA Executive Committee since 2014, which addressed the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the protection of football stakeholders in our country from the aggressive policies of the Russian terrorist state, including regarding the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, we emphasise that the version of the map presented by FIFA during the global broadcast to a multimillion audience is unacceptable.
“It appears as an inconsistent stance by FIFA and UEFA on this crucial issue, especially in light of the ongoing destructive invasion initiated by Russia against Ukraine in the 21st century, in the heart of Europe.”
SunSport has contacted FIFA for comment.
Ukraine were pitted in Group D alongside Iceland, Azerbaijan and the winners of the two-legged France vs. Croatia Nations League quarter-final.
Thomas Tuchel’s England, meanwhile, got Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra in a five-team Group K.
- This article first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission
Originally published as Nation left fuming over ‘unacceptable error’ in World Cup map
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