FIFA U-17 World Cup to Begin in Qatar Despite US Withdrawal Over Security Concerns

The 2026 FIFA Under-17 World Cup will kick off in Qatar on November 19 as scheduled, despite the withdrawal of the United States team from the competition over security concerns.

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The decision was confirmed by FIFA on Thursday, November 12, following an announcement by the United States Soccer Federation that it would no longer participate in the tournament because of concerns about the security situation in the region.

The US federation also cancelled the team’s pre-tournament training camp, citing the existing Level 3 travel advisory issued by the US State Department, which urges American citizens to reconsider travelling to Qatar because of the risk of armed conflict.

The United States had been scheduled to compete in Group J alongside Montenegro, Chile and Algeria. Its opening match against Montenegro was slated for November 21.

However, FIFA said its security assessments remained unchanged, adding that no new developments had emerged to affect the security situation surrounding the tournament.

In a statement, the football governing body said the safety and security of players, officials and fans remained its priority. It added that it was maintaining close communication with the relevant Qatari authorities ahead of the competition.

FIFA also noted that Qatar had successfully hosted several international sporting events in recent months, including the MotoGP and the FIP Padel World Cup.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino also maintained that Qatar was safe to host the competition, saying teams and supporters were welcome in the country.

The 48-team tournament will run from November 19 to December 13, with matches taking place across eight pitches at Aspire Zone in Doha. The final is scheduled to be held at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.

The competition will feature 104 matches, with several games scheduled daily during the group stage and knockout rounds. Seven countries are expected to make their debut at the tournament.

Qatar is hosting the second edition of the expanded 48-team competition and is scheduled to stage the FIFA U-17 World Cup annually until 2029.

Meanwhile, FIFA is expected to follow the applicable tournament regulations regarding the vacant place created by the United States’ withdrawal. A replacement team had not been announced as of November 12.

Despite the development, preparations by the organisers and participating teams are continuing, with several national squads already arriving in Doha for training and friendly matches.