The United States has withdrawn from the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar over security fears, pulling its team out of the tournament just days before it was due to begin.
The players were told of the decision on Wednesday, November 11. The US had been drawn in Group J for the tournament, which is scheduled to run from November 19 to December 13 in Qatar.
The decision follows a US State Department Level 3 travel advisory for Qatar, which urges Americans to reconsider travel to the country. The advisory reflects the security situation in the region, where tensions have risen sharply during the US-Iran war.
The withdrawal is a major blow for the tournament, which brings together the world’s best under-17 national teams. The US is one of the regular contenders at youth level, and its absence will be felt on and off the pitch.
Qatar is hosting the U-17 World Cup for the first time. The tournament was expanded in recent years, and this edition was expected to be one of the biggest youth football events ever staged in the Gulf.
There has been no official comment yet from FIFA on the US withdrawal, or on whether another team will take the vacant place in Group J. The US Soccer Federation has also not given a detailed public explanation beyond the security concerns behind the decision.
The move comes at a tense time for the region. The war between the US and Israel on one side and Iran on the other, which began in February, has already disrupted shipping, air travel and sporting events across the Middle East.
