JFF seeks urgent FIFA assurances after US pulls out of U-17 World Cup
Key Points(5)
- The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is urgently seeking clarification from FIFA over security arrangements for the 2026 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar following the United States' decision to withdraw from the tournament amid concerns about potential armed conflict in the region.
- With Jamaica scheduled to depart for the competition on Saturday, JFF President Michael Ricketts says the federation must establish FIFA's position before deciding whether the young Reggae Boyz should proceed with their participation.
- The Americans announced their withdrawal Wednesday, citing security risks surrounding the tournament, which is scheduled to run from November 19 to December 13.
- Reports indicate that US Soccer formally outlined its concerns in a letter, referring to guidance from the United States Department of State, which issued a Level Three travel advisory for Qatar last month, urging travelers to reconsider visiting the country.
- The decision has heightened anxiety within the Jamaican federation, particularly given the United States' standing in international football and the seriousness of its security concerns.
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is urgently seeking clarification from FIFA over security arrangements for the 2026 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar following the United States' decision to withdraw from the tournament amid concerns about potential armed conflict in the region.
With Jamaica scheduled to depart for the competition on Saturday, JFF President Michael Ricketts says the federation must establish FIFA's position before deciding whether the young Reggae Boyz should proceed with their participation.
The Americans announced their withdrawal Wednesday, citing security risks surrounding the tournament, which is scheduled to run from November 19 to December 13.
Reports indicate that US Soccer formally outlined its concerns in a letter, referring to guidance from the United States Department of State, which issued a Level Three travel advisory for Qatar last month, urging travelers to reconsider visiting the country.
The decision has heightened anxiety within the Jamaican federation, particularly given the United States' standing in international football and the seriousness of its security concerns.
"I have to be concerned because if a powerhouse like the US can deem it fit to withdraw because of security reasons, then obviously we have to be concerned," said Ricketts.
Ricketts wants FIFA's position before departure
Ricketts revealed that he had spoken with FIFA Secretary General earlier Wednesday but said the security situation surrounding the Under-17 tournament did not feature in their conversation.
Instead, their discussions focused on other international football matters, including the proposed four-country hosting arrangement for the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup and an extraordinary FIFA Congress scheduled for next week.
"This morning (Wednesday), I was on the phone with the secretary general of FIFA and he never raised that issue at all. We were talking about the four countries hosting the Women’s World Cup in 2031 and, of course, an extraordinary congress to be held next week. Those were the topical issues, and at no time did he raise any concerns in relation to the Under-17s going down to Qatar," Ricketts said.
Despite the absence of any security warning during that conversation, the JFF president stressed that his federation could not afford to take the matter lightly.
He said urgent consultations with FIFA were necessary to establish whether the governing body considered it safe for participating teams to travel to Qatar and compete as scheduled.
"We must have some discussions with FIFA in this regard and for them to advise us as to what their thoughts are in relation to us participating or not participating," he said. "We are, of course, concerned, and we must be serious about the decisions that we will take from here on."
Other withdrawals could influence Jamaica's decision
The JFF will also be watching closely to determine whether the American withdrawal triggers similar decisions from other participating countries.
Ricketts acknowledged that he was unaware of any other nations having pulled out but emphasized that Jamaica's approaching departure date made the situation particularly pressing.
"I don’t know if there are any other countries that have done what the US have done, so we just have to wait and see. We are supposed to leave on Saturday, so we must, with some level of urgency, have some discussions with FIFA and then take some advice from them," he added.
The federation is therefore seeking FIFA's guidance before determining its next move, with the safety of the players and officials expected to remain central to any decision.
Reggae Boyz face challenging Group E assignment
Jamaica qualified for its third appearance at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup after an impressive campaign at the CONCACAF qualifying tournament in Alajuela, Costa Rica, in February, where the young Reggae Boyz finished atop their group.
They have subsequently been drawn into Group E alongside European powerhouse Italy, African representatives Côte d'Ivoire and Asian challengers Uzbekistan.
However, with the United States' withdrawal now casting uncertainty over the tournament, Jamaica's immediate priority is no longer simply preparing for its opening match.
The JFF must first obtain satisfactory assurances about the security situation in Qatar before deciding whether the country's young footballers will take their place on the global stage.
