U.S. Soccer will not send its under-17 boys' national team to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. The tournament is scheduled to open Nov. 19, and the Americans had a group-stage match already set for Nov. 21.
The federation is keeping the team out because of safety concerns tied to the war with Iran, Yahoo Sports reported Wednesday. The decision followed consultation with U.S. Soccer's internal security team and the State Department, among others. The federation notified FIFA, the players and staff the same day.
The Advisory In The Letter
A letter to players linked the withdrawal to the circumstances already in front of them. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the letter cited the State Department's Level 3 travel advisory for Qatar and related directives for embassy staff and families.
Level 3 is the department's instruction to reconsider travel. An October notice from the U.S. Embassy in Qatar described an advisory at that level, issued because of the risk of armed conflict. The letter put that government warning, and the rules written for embassy staff and their families, next to a boys' national team that had been booked for the same country.
Five Straight Tournaments, One Recent Exit
This is the second edition of the U-17 World Cup's annual, 48-team format, and the second of five consecutive tournaments Qatar was selected to host, starting in 2025, U.S. Soccer said when it named the roster. The senior men's World Cup is still played once every four years. This one now comes around every year, in the same host country, through the end of that five-year run.
The United States' best finish at this age group remains fourth place, in 1999. In 2025, the first of those Qatar tournaments, Morocco eliminated the Americans in the round of 32. The trip that was supposed to follow that exit is the one called off on Wednesday.
A Group Stage Already In Print
The schedule published with the roster was specific. The United States was to open against Montenegro on Nov. 21, play Chile on Nov. 24 and meet Algeria on Nov. 27. The tournament itself is scheduled to run through Dec. 13.
Head coach Alex Aldaz named the 21 players on Nov. 6 and presented them as the group that would represent the United States in Qatar. Five days later, those players were told they would not be going. The opener they had been given is still 10 days away.
A Camp Near Atlanta
The pre-tournament plan had already been rewritten once. Yahoo Sports reported that U.S. Soccer moved the camp from Qatar to the national training center near Atlanta, with workouts set to begin Thursday.
Thursday's session, as described on Wednesday, is what remains of a World Cup preparation. Montenegro, Chile and Algeria are still on the tournament calendar. Under the notice sent to FIFA, this American team is not.
