The United States has withdrawn its Under-17 men’s national team from the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar due to security fears, U.S. Soccer confirmed.
Players and their families were informed on Wednesday, November 11, in a letter from the federation. The letter stated that the decision was made “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.” It emphasized that the well-being of players and staff remains the top priority and expressed pride in the team’s preparations.
The Level 3 advisory, issued on October 23, advises Americans to “reconsider travel” to Qatar because of the risk of armed conflict. Regional tensions have intensified since early 2026 amid the broader conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, with reports of missiles, drones, and debris affecting Qatar.
The 48-team tournament is scheduled to run from November 19 to December 13 in Doha, with most matches at the Aspire Zone complex and the final at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium. The U.S. team, coached by Alex Aldaz, had named a 21-player roster and was due to open its campaign against Montenegro on November 21, followed by group matches against Chile and Algeria.
The withdrawal comes just over a week before the event begins. U.S. Soccer Collective first reported the news, which was later confirmed by major outlets.
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