DOHA (The Thursday Times) — The United States has withdrawn its team from FIFA’s under-17 men’s World Cup in Qatar over safety and security concerns, the country’s football federation told its players in a letter on Wednesday.
“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 letter said. “The well-being of our players and staff will always be our top priority.”
The letter also cancelled the squad’s pre-tournament camp. Players were told just over a week before the tournament is due to begin. The United States had been drawn in a group with Montenegro, Chile, and Algeria.
Sport and the war
The under-17 World Cup, now played every year with 48 teams, is being staged in Qatar for five consecutive editions. FIFA said when it announced the arrangement in 2024 that a single host would make use of existing football infrastructure.
Several sporting events in the Gulf have been moved or cancelled since the war began in February with US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which retaliated against Gulf states allied with Washington. The WTA Finals moved from Saudi Arabia to Indian Wells in the United States, the Saudi Grand Prix in Jeddah was cancelled, and the Bahrain race was moved to Malaysia.
Saudi Arabia has also postponed events in recent weeks after Houthi attacks on the kingdom, including the drones it says were aimed at Mecca.
The decision comes days after Qatar’s prime minister held talks with President Donald Trump in Washington on efforts to end the war, in which Doha has acted as a mediator.
