ZURICH — FIFA has expressed its apologies to the Ukrainian soccer federation following a mishap during the World Cup qualifying draw. The incident occurred when a map presented during the event excluded Crimea, a region that has been under Russian occupation since 2014, from Ukraine’s territory.

In a letter made public by the Ukrainian soccer organization, FIFA’s chief member association officer, Elkhan Mammadov, acknowledged the sensitivity surrounding this issue. He noted that while the error was unintentional, FIFA is genuinely sorry for any distress it may have caused.

In the draw held in Zurich, Ukraine was one of 54 national teams vying for spots in the qualifying rounds for the 2026 World Cup. Notably, Russia has been suspended from participating in FIFA competitions due to its military actions in Ukraine. The graphic displayed during the draw did not regard Crimea as part of Ukraine.

Ukraine’s government spokesman, Heorhii Tykhyi, raised concerns on social media by questioning FIFA’s oversight, suggesting that they had corrected the map and were looking forward to a formal apology.

Mammadov responded by clarifying that the offending map was supplied by a third party and stated that FIFA is taking steps to ensure such mistakes are avoided in the future.

In the qualifying process, Ukraine will be placed in a group alongside either France or Croatia, along with Iceland and Azerbaijan. The group winner will secure a direct entrance to the World Cup, which will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, while the team finishing second will have the opportunity to compete in a playoff in March 2026.

Since February 2022, both FIFA and UEFA have prohibited Russian teams from participating in international competitions. This action was taken due to the anticipated uncertainty stemming from various European federations refusing to engage in matches against Russia.