The United States has officially withdrawn from the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Men’s World Cup in Qatar, abruptly ending its participation due to significant security concerns. A source close to the situation confirmed the decision to USA TODAY Sports, noting that U.S. Soccer had not yet issued a formal public statement at the time of reporting. The news, initially surfaced by U.S. Soccer Collective, marks a sudden reversal for the program, which had already finalized its competitive preparations for the 48-team tournament.
U.S. Soccer pulls out of Doha tournament just days before kickoff, citing security risks.
U.S. Soccer notified players and their families of the withdrawal on Wednesday, Nov. 11, just days before the competition was scheduled to begin. The decision comes despite the fact that head coach Alex Aldaz had announced a 21-player roster the previous week, with the team slated to open its campaign against Montenegro on Saturday, Nov. 21. The tournament is set to run from Nov. 19 to Dec. 13 in Doha, with all matches hosted at the Aspire Zone complex except for the final, which will take place at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
This withdrawal stands in stark contrast to the rest of the field, as there is no indication that other nations are following suit. On the same day the U.S. made its decision, FIFA published the official squad lists for all 48 participating teams, including the United States, highlighting the isolation of the U.S. decision. The move raises immediate questions about the safety protocols in place for international youth tournaments and the diplomatic implications for U.S. Soccer’s relationship with FIFA, though no further details on the specific security threats have been released.
Source: Yahoo Sports
