FIFA president Gianni Infantino says Qatar remains safe to host the Under-17 World Cup, even after the United States withdrew its team from the tournament over security concerns. Speaking to reporters in Doha on Thursday, Infantino said the decision to pull out was US Soccer's to make but insisted other competing nations had nothing to fear.
"Every country, every national team knows best by themselves what they want to do, they decide," Infantino said. "What I can say is that everyone is welcome in Doha, everyone is safe in Doha," he added.
US Soccer informed players on Wednesday that it was withdrawing from the competition, citing security concerns in the Gulf region. FIFA confirmed the withdrawal on Thursday but said its own security assessment had not changed, stating that "no new developments affecting the security situation of the tournament have occured." In a statement, FIFA said it "understands that US Soccer's decision was made in light of the existing US Level 3 travel advisory," adding that it remains "in close contact with the relevant authorities and are looking forward to the tournament kick-off in Qatar."
The United States had been drawn to face Montenegro, Chile and Algeria in Group J. A replacement for the vacant spot has yet to be announced, though local organisers expect an update soon.
"This is a FIFA decision, a FIFA competition," said Jassim Al Jassim, CEO of Qatar's Local Organising Committee. "I think they will announce something within the next few days." Al Jassim said preparations were continuing as normal, with several teams already in Doha for training camps and friendly matches, and pointed to other recent international events held in the country, including MotoGP and a United Nations technology conference. "Everything is normal, business as usual for us," he said.
Second of five tournaments in Qatar
This is the second of five consecutive Under-17 World Cups that Qatar will host through 2029. During a visit to Aspire Zone on Thursday, Infantino praised preparations for the event, which will bring together young players from six continents. "Qatar is ready, FIFA is ready," he said, highlighting the eight pitches that will host matches and encouraging fans to attend. "Come to Qatar, come to Doha, enjoy the best young players in the world," he said.
The competition expanded from 24 to 48 teams last year, with matches played across eight pitches at Aspire Zone. Infantino admitted FIFA had been unsure how the larger format would work when it was introduced in 2025. "We did not really know what to expect," he said. "The response from all the teams, from the managers, from everyone was absolutely fantastic." He said last year's tournament drew an average of 10,000 spectators a day, and organisers have since made improvements to accommodate potentially larger crowds.
Teams arriving ahead of kick-off
This year's competition is scheduled to feature 104 matches, with up to eight games a day during the group stage and Round of 32. Seven countries are set to make their debut, including Greece, Montenegro and Vietnam, while China is returning after a 21-year absence.
Saudi Arabia, Cameroon, China and South Korea are among the teams already in Doha, with more expected in the coming days. Most matches will be played at Aspire Zone. Hosts Qatar open their campaign against Panama on 19 November, with the final scheduled for 13 December at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
