US withdraws from U17 World Cup in Qatar over security fears: reports

LOS ANGELES: The United States has withdrawn from the upcoming Under-17 soccer World Cup in Qatar due to concerns about security in the Middle East, US media reported Wednesday.

Players were informed of the decision just over a week before the tournament is due to begin on November 19, US Soccer Collective and The Athletic reported, citing anonymous sources.

US Soccer, the sport’s governing body in the United States, did not immediately confirm the news or respond to AFP’s request for comment.

The war in the Middle East began in February with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which retaliated by targeting, among others, Gulf countries allied with Washington.