FIFA Under-17 World Cup to kick off in Qatar despite US withdrawal

What the report says

FIFA says the Under-17 World Cup will begin in Qatar on November 19 as planned, despite the United States withdrawing its team from the 48-nation tournament. US Soccer said it pulled out because of safety concerns, while FIFA said its security assessments for the event had not changed and that it was still working with relevant authorities ahead of kickoff.

According to the Al Jazeera report, FIFA told the broadcaster that it remained confident in Qatar’s ability to stage international sports events safely. The governing body pointed to recent major competitions in the country, including the Qatar MotoGP round and the FIP Padel World Cup, as examples of successful hosting in recent weeks.

US Soccer, in a letter cited by Reuters, said it was canceling the team’s pre-tournament camp and participation “in light of current circumstances.” The report says the US State Department had updated its travel advice for Qatar last month, urging Americans to reconsider travel because of risks linked to armed conflict in the wider region. FIFA said it understood the decision was made in light of that advisory.

The tournament runs from November 19 to December 13. The United States had been scheduled to face Montenegro, Chile and Algeria in Group J. The final is set for Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Qatar.