U.S. Soccer has pulled its boys’ Under-17 team from the World Cup in Qatar, citing the State Department’s Level 3 travel advisory for the Gulf state amid the Iran war. FIFA confirmed the withdrawal on Thursday, a week before the tournament was set to begin.
The 48-nation tournament kicks off in Doha next week. The U.S. opener was scheduled for Nov. 21 against Montenegro, with Chile on Nov. 24 and Algeria on Nov. 27. The State Department’s Oct. 23 advisory urges Americans to reconsider travel to Qatar because of the risk of armed conflict. U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel there.
The withdrawal ends a World Cup opportunity for 21 players less than a week after head coach Alex Aldaz announced his roster on Nov. 6. It also leaves a gap in Group J and raises a fine of at least 20,000 Swiss francs, about $24,000, under FIFA regulations.
Why the U.S. pulled out
The federation said 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.” In a letter to players, U.S. Soccer said it was “extremely proud” of the team’s preparation and called the decision difficult.
The advisory cites attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi forces against civilian airports and other infrastructure in neighboring Saudi Arabia, and warns that the hostilities could spread rapidly beyond the immediate area. It also identifies risks to civilian aviation from regional political and military tensions. Americans who travel to Qatar are urged to prepare to shelter in place and to have an emergency departure plan that does not depend on U.S. government assistance.
An Iranian missile struck Qatar’s Al-Udeid Air Base in March, Fox News Digital reported, with no injuries reported by Qatari officials. On Oct. 23, the State Department ordered nonemergency U.S. government employees and their families out of Saudi Arabia.
What FIFA says
FIFA said “security assessments remain unchanged, and no new developments affecting the security situation around the tournament have occurred.” The governing body noted that other sports events have been staged safely in Qatar this year, including a track and field Diamond League meeting, a MotoGP race and qualifying games for the 2027 FIBA World Cup in men’s basketball.
FIFA did not name a replacement team. The Dominican Republic finished second in the qualifying group that the U.S. won in the CONCACAF region. Under tournament regulations, the U.S. Soccer Federation should be fined “at least” 20,000 Swiss francs for withdrawing fewer than 30 days before the opening game.
The U.S. earned its place in February, winning its qualifying group in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Americans beat the hosts 8-0 and St. Kitts and Nevis 10-0 before clinching qualification with a 1-1 draw against the Dominican Republic. Nine members of that qualifying squad made the World Cup roster.
The roster included Philadelphia Union forward Malik Jakupovic, who scored eight of the team’s 19 goals in qualifying, and players affiliated with European clubs including AC Milan, Ajax and PSV. The withdrawal came hours after FIFA published the American squad among the official player lists for the tournament.
This year’s competition is the second under the tournament’s expanded annual, 48-team format and the second of five consecutive editions awarded to Qatar. The final is set for Dec. 13 at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium. For U.S. Soccer, the focus now turns to the senior men’s team and the coaching situation around Mauricio Pochettino, even as the youth program absorbs the loss of a World Cup cycle.
FIFA’s own accounting of the sport’s growth, including its decision to double prize money for the women’s game while the men’s game still earns more, shows how much a World Cup appearance is worth to a developing program. The U.S. under-17s will now wait for the next cycle.
