Fuming Ukrainian FA blast Fifa over ‘unacceptable error’ during World Cup 2026 qualifying draw
Ukraine discovered who they must get past to book spot at next major tournament
THE Ukrainian FA 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.
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.
The raging letter said: “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 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 multi-million 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.”
Russia's invasion of Ukraine timeline
VLADIMIR Putin waged a murderous invasion ok his neighbouring country in 2022, following years of heated Russo-Ukranian tensions.
24 February 2022: Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine with an invasion of the eastern territory of Donbas. Explosions were also reported in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa
25 February 2022: Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky and his team posted a video following rumours they had fled the country.
16 March 2022: Russia blitzed Mariupol’s Drama Theater where around 1,300 civilians were sheltering.
1 September 2022: Russian forces flee the eastern Kharkiv region following a strong Ukrainian counteroffensive.
21 September 2022: Putin announced a controversial partial mobilization to draft soldiers, the country’s first since World War Two.
12 November 2022: The city of Kherson, in the south of Ukraine, was liberated after an eight-month occupation.
21 December 2022: Zelensky travels to Washington D.C. to meet President Joe Biden and address Congress.
25 January 2023: Germany approves sending tanks to Ukraine
20 February 2023: US President Joe Biden makes a surprise visit to Kyiv for the first time since the invasion began.
23 June 2023: Russian mercenaries stage a mutiny attempt with the paramilitary organization Wagner.
24 June 2023: The shortlived Wagner Group march to Moscow and the coup attempt ends.
27 August 2023: Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was confirmed dead in a plane crash.
8 February 2024: Zelensky replaces his top army leader Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
20 April 2024: US House of Representatives approves a huge foreign aid package for Ukraine.
6 August 2024: Ukrainian forces launched a surprise incursion into Russia’s western Kursk region.
19 November 2024: Ukraine fires several long-range US-supplied missiles into Russia for the first time.
21 November 2024: Putin’s forces fire new ballistic missiles into Ukraine for the first time.
Fifa said in a statement: “FIFA is aware of an issue, which affected one of the graphics displayed during the draw and addressed the situation with the Federation. The segment has been removed.”
They later issued a grovelling apology after the blunder for what they described as an “unacceptable” error.
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.
World Cup qualifying draw in full
Group A: Winner GER/ITA, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo
Group C: Loser POR/DEN, Greece, Scotland, Belarus
Group D: Winner FRA/CRO, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan
Group E: Winner SPA/NED, Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria
Group F: Winner POR/DEN, Hungary, Ireland, Armenia
Group G: Loser SPA/NED, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta
Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino
Group I: Loser GER/ITA, Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova
Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechenstein
Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra
Group L: Loser FRA/CRO, Czechia, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar