The United States has withdrawn from the 2026 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar, citing security concerns linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The decision was communicated to players and staff in a letter from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), which was seen by Reuters.
In the letter, the federation said it could no longer participate in the competition because of the prevailing security situation and a travel advisory issued by the US State Department.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, November 11, just eight days before the tournament is scheduled to kick off on November 19.
The US State Department has classified Qatar under Level 3 of its travel advisory system, urging American citizens to reconsider travelling to the country because of the potential risk of armed conflict.
“Unfortunately, in light of current circumstances, including the US State Department’s Level 3 Travel Advisory for Qatar and related directives for Embassy staff and families, we are no longer able to participate in the tournament,” the federation stated.
It added that the safety and welfare of its players and officials remained its top priority.
The withdrawal followed consultations between the federation’s internal security team and the US State Department amid growing concerns over the security situation in the Middle East.
As a precaution, the American team had earlier relocated its pre-tournament training camp from Qatar to its national training centre near Atlanta, Georgia.
The decision comes despite the United States having already unveiled its 21-man squad for the competition, with head coach Alex Aldaz selecting the players to represent the country.
The US had been drawn in Group J alongside Montenegro, Chile and Algeria, with its opening fixture against Montenegro scheduled for November 21.
The 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup is scheduled to run from November 19 to December 13 in Qatar, featuring 48 national teams.
The American withdrawal could also expose the country to disciplinary measures from FIFA, depending on the applicable tournament regulations.
