Political disputes, territorial claims and security concerns have led FIFA and UEFA to prevent six national-team pairings from meeting in their competitions, including Spain against Gibraltar and Russia against Ukraine.
Football is regularly described as a force that unites nations, but international fixtures can become politically sensitive when countries are involved in longstanding disputes or armed conflict. In such cases, governing bodies have taken steps to ensure certain teams do not face one another in competition draws.
The restrictions have affected both national teams and clubs, while the wider political tensions have also had a direct impact on players and match arrangements.
Spain v Gibraltar
Spain and Gibraltar remain divided by a long-running dispute over sovereignty.
Gibraltar has been under British control since 1713, although Spain continues to claim the territory. That disagreement has also influenced football, with UEFA keeping Spain and Gibraltar apart when making competition draws because of the sensitivity surrounding the issue.
Armenia v Azerbaijan
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been separated in football because of their prolonged conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
The dispute has resulted in several periods of armed conflict, including renewed fighting in 2020 and 2023. UEFA has also ensured that clubs from the two countries are not drawn against each other in European competitions.
The political tension has affected players as well as teams. Armenian international Henrikh Mkhitaryan did not play for Arsenal in the 2019 Europa League final in Baku because of security concerns.
Kosovo v Serbia
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Serbia does not recognise the declaration and continues to claim the territory.
The disagreement has carried over into football. UEFA has prevented Kosovo and Serbia from being drawn together in its competitions, avoiding a fixture that would carry significant political and security implications.
Kosovo v Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina is also among the countries that do not recognise Kosovo’s independence.
Its position is linked in part to political divisions within the country, particularly the stance of Republika Srpska. As a result, UEFA has kept the national teams of Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina apart in its competitions.
Kosovo v Russia
Russia does not recognise Kosovo’s independence and continues to support Serbia’s position on the territory.
The two sides have therefore been separated in UEFA competitions. Russia’s later suspension from international football has provided a further reason why the fixture has not taken place.
Russia v Ukraine
The war between Russia and Ukraine has made a meeting between their national teams impossible.
After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, FIFA and UEFA suspended Russian national teams and clubs from their competitions. The conflict has also caused major disruption to Ukrainian football, with clubs having to relocate matches and players directly affected by the war.
Together, these cases show how international football can be shaped by events beyond the pitch. Although FIFA and UEFA organise competitions intended to bring teams together, political disputes and security risks have sometimes made separation the only practical option.
