U.S. Soccer has withdrawn its men's under-17 national team from the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar over safety concerns, telling players in a letter on Wednesday that it was cancelling the team's pre-tournament camp and its participation in the event "in light of current circumstances."
The federation cited the U.S. State Department's Level 3 travel advisory for Qatar, which urges Americans to reconsider travel because of the risk of armed conflict, and related directives for embassy staff and families. "The well-being of our players and staff will always be our top priority," the letter said.
The State Department updated its advisory for Qatar last month. The update cited Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including on civilian airports and critical infrastructure. The decision comes amid the war in the Middle East, which began in February with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
The 48-team tournament runs from November 19 to December 13. The United States had been due to open against Montenegro on November 21 before facing Chile and Algeria in Group J. U.S. Soccer said it would notify the players' clubs on Wednesday and asked players not to comment publicly until FIFA announces the decision. FIFA did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The United States reached the round of 32 at last year's edition, also held in Qatar, which is set to host the tournament every year through 2029.
