The United States has withdrawn from the upcoming Under-17 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, citing security concerns linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to reports by US media.
The decision was communicated to players just over a week before the tournament is scheduled to begin on November 19, 2026, US Soccer Collective and The Athletic reported on Wednesday, November 11, citing anonymous sources.
US Soccer, the governing body of football in the United States, had not officially confirmed the withdrawal at the time of the reports and did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AFP.
The reported decision comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following joint US-Israeli military strikes on Iran in February. Iran subsequently retaliated with attacks targeting several countries in the Gulf that are allied with Washington.
Although diplomatic efforts have been made to end the conflict, repeated threats by the United States and Israel to resume attacks on Iran have continued to raise concerns about security in the region.
The situation has also affected several international sporting events scheduled to take place in the Middle East.
The WTA Finals, which were initially scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia, have instead been moved to Indian Wells in the United States.
This season’s Formula One Grand Prix in Jeddah was cancelled, while the Bahrain race was also called off and later rescheduled under the same name in Malaysia.
Several other sporting events in Saudi Arabia have been cancelled or postponed in recent weeks following attacks on the country by the Houthis in Yemen.
The United States was among 48 countries expected to compete in the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar. The team had been drawn in a group alongside Montenegro, Chile and Algeria.
The tournament became an annual competition last year, with Qatar selected to host five consecutive editions.
When FIFA announced the decision in 2024, it said choosing one host country for multiple tournaments would allow organisers to maximise the use of existing football infrastructure while improving efficiency and sustainability.
Qatar previously hosted the senior men’s FIFA World Cup in 2022, becoming the first country in the Middle East to stage the tournament.
