The United States withdrew its selection from the Qatar Under-17 World Cup for security reasons, and confirmed FIFA today, less than a week from the start of the competition.
© FC Alverca
12/11/2026
by
Lusa
A u.S. football Federation decision arises in a context of security alert in the Gulf region, following the US military attacks on Iran, which began in February.
An American security organization informed players on Wednesday about the decision, hours after FIFA published the American list among the official teams for the tournament.
The U.S. team was scheduled to open on November 21, in front of Montenegro, joining the group with Chile and Algeria, in a competition starting next Wednesday in Doha, with 48 participants.
In a statement, FIFA stated that it understood the decision, taken taking into account the level three travel notice issued by the US authorities, but ensured that its security assessments for the tournament “stay unchanged”.
The organization has not yet announced a substitute selection, the Dominican Republic being one of the possibilities, after finishing second in the CONCACAF zone qualification group, won by the United States.
According to competition regulations, the US federation may still be fined at at least $24,000 (about 22,000 euros), for giving up less than 30 days from the start of the tournament.
Qatar hosts all editions of the Under-17 World Cup between 2025 and 2029. This year's edition begins on 19 November and ends on 13 December.