US U-17 Men's National Soccer Team Withdraws from World Cup in Qatar
The United States Soccer Federation has decided to withdraw from the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar due to security concerns. It was announced that the decision was made following the U.S. Department of State's issuance of a Level 3 travel advisory due to the risk of armed conflict in the region.
The U.S. Soccer Federation announced it will not participate in the FIFA U-17 World Cup scheduled to begin on November 19. In an informational letter sent to players, the federation stated that it has canceled the pre-tournament camp and match participation, citing the U.S. Department of State's Level 3 travel advisory highlighting the risk of armed conflict in the region.
The tournament was scheduled to take place between November 19 and December 13. The U.S. team was set to face Montenegro, Chile, and Algeria in the group stage. Emphasizing that the safety of the players and coaching staff is the highest priority, the federation stated that players' clubs would be notified and that they were asked not to comment publicly until an official statement is made by FIFA.
The U.S. Department of State's travel advisory, updated on October 23, points to the risk that conflicts in the region could escalate rapidly. The advisory recalls attacks targeting civilian infrastructure, particularly in Saudi Arabia, and advises American citizens to reevaluate their travel to the region. It is known that the 2027 Asian Cup was previously postponed due to the security situation in the region.