UEFA Adds New Game to List of Banned International Fixtures

UEFA has banned a total of seven fixtures from taking place in decisions which had an impact on World Cup qualifying.

The showpiece in the United States, Mexico and Canada takes place in the summer of 2026, with 16 sides set to represent Europe in the 48-team tournament.

The 12 teams who win their qualification groups will qualify directly and be joined by four sides from the play-offs - which will feature 12 runners up and the four best-ranked group winners of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League who didn't finish in first or second in World Cup qualifying.

The final two fixtures take place in the current international break, completing a group stage phase which was drawn on 13 December 2024.

However, in a procedures document published ahead of the draw, UEFA confirmed that it had to take into account a number of fixtures which are not allowed to take place.

In total four fixtures were banned, including Ukraine vs Belarus, Kosovo vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo vs Serbia and Spain vs Gibraltar.

Ukraine and Belarus are banned from playing one another. Image: Getty

All sides were therefore kept apart in the draw.

There have been repeated calls for Belarus to be banned by UEFA due to "its complicity in Russian aggression" and their role in "contributing directly to the suffering and destruction in Ukraine".

However, while they cannot face Ukraine, they have continued to participate in Group C alongside Scotland, Greece and Denmark, losing all four of their games.

Russia, meanwhile have been banned from official competition since 2022 and have instead had to play unofficial friendly fixtures.

However, even before that, they were kept apart from playing Ukraine - who they have only met twice in history.

Kosovo, who declared independence in 2008 are banned from playing Serbia, Bosnia and Russia due to war in 1998 and 1999 fought between Yugoslav forces, while Armenia and Azerbaijan are also kept apart following in from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Tensions were so strong in fact, that Armenian star Henrikh Mkhitaryan elected against travelling to Azerbaijan capital Baku for the Europa League final between Arsenal and Chelsea.

There has never been a game between the two nations, though it has been reported that there are plans for talks after a peace agreement was signed at the White House in August.

Spain and Gibraltar are also not allowed to play one another, owing the European champions' long-standing territorial claim of the bordering nation.

Spain are effectively blocked from facing neighbouring Gibraltar. Image: Getty

Gibraltar, ranked 200th in the world, is a British Overseas Territory located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula but it is not recognised by the Spanish government.

After winning Euro 2024, Spain pair Alvaro Morata and Rodri chanted "Gibraltar is Spanish” in the celebrations and were banned for one game by UEFA, who found they were guilty of "failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sporting events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and for bringing the sport of football, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute".

Full list of fixtures that are banned by UEFA and FIFA

• Spain v Gibraltar - Disputes over who owns Gibraltar
• Armenia v Azerbaijan - Ethical and territorial conflict
• Kosovo v Serbia - Historical and ethical conflict - Kosovo independence
• Kosovo v Bosnia and Herzegovina - Bosnia support of Serbia against Kosovo
• Kosovo v Russia - Russia support of Serbia against Kosovo
• Russia v Ukraine - Ongoing conflict
• Ukraine vs Belarus - Belarus links to Russia amid ongoing conflict