In a stunning geopolitical development for international football, the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) has officially withdrawn the American squad from the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar just days before the tournament is scheduled to kick off on November 19 in Doha. Citing urgent U.S. State Department travel advisories amid escalating regional conflict and recent missile and maritime attacks in the Gulf, officials ruled that player safety could not be guaranteed. The sudden pullout leaves FIFA scrambling to address Group J alongside Montenegro, Algeria, and Chile.
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