U.S. Withdraws National Team From FIFA Men’s U-17 World Cup In Qatar Due To Safety Concerns

The United States of America has withdrawn its men’s national team from the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar due to security concerns.

The worries about safety are centered around the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The players were informed of the decision on Wednesday. U.S. Soccer Collective first reported the news (as reported by The Athletics).

This year’s team, coached by Alex Aldaz, was supposed to be headlined by the likes of Malik Jakupovic (Philadelphia Union), Robert Turdean (Chicago Fire), Vinny Garcia (LA Galaxy) and other rising teen talents.

The roster was announced last week, and the players were supposed to convene in Atlanta for a training camp this week.

Also Read: Ghana Took 25-Year-Olds To 2007 U-17 World Cup – Ex-Man United Star Claims

The tournament is set to kick off on November 19, with the United States’ first match against Montenegro slated for Saturday, November 21. The U.S. was also drawn into a group with Chile and Algeria.

The best U.S. finish at the tournament is fourth place in 1999. The Americans were eliminated by Morocco in the round of 32 at last year’s edition.

FIFA made changes to the U-17 World Cup, hosting the tournament every year instead of every two years since its inaugural competition in 1985.

The tournament is set to be hosted in Qatar from 2025-29. This year is the second of an expanded field to 48, up from 24 in 2023.

James Agberebi is a sports content creator and analyst with a passion for football and other sports. He writes sports news, match reports, and analysis to keep fans informed about the latest developments in the sporting world. James has covered international matches involving both Nigeria’s men’s and women’s national teams. His experience covering Nigerian football gives him a good understanding of the game and the teams he writes about. Through his work with Complete Sports, James shares sports updates, match coverage, and analysis with readers in Nigeria and around the world.