FIFA makes a controversial mistake during the 2026 World Cup draw: what happened?

During the draw for the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, an unprecedented scandal occurred, potentially sparking international outrage.

Details: While displaying the geographical separation of teams for political reasons, a map was shown that depicted Ukraine's territory without the temporarily occupied Crimea. According to Ukrainian media, the local football association is already preparing a protest to FIFA over the incident.

Reminder: Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014. Numerous UN General Assebmle resolutions, along with the stance of many nations, do not recognize this annexation and emphasize Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Russia, following its full-scale invasion in 2022, has been banned from all FIFA and UEFA competitions. But that doesn't stop FIFA from portraying Crimea as part of Russia.