Rising political tensions in Middle East led federation to scuttle plans to train in Qatar
Late Friday, the United States Soccer federation announced it will move its annual January training camp from Qatar to Bradenton, Fla.
The camp will be held on the campus of IMG Academy.
The move came less than 24 hours after political tensions in the Middle East rose exponentially after the United States killed an Iranian general at an airport in Iraq.
Qatar is a peninsula that juts into the Persian Gulf. The country, which will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, is 500 miles away from the Iranian cost and 700 miles away from Iraq’s borders.
“Due to the developing situation in the region, U.S. Soccer has decided to postpone traveling to Qatar for the Men’s National Team’s scheduled January training camp,” the federation announced in a statement. “In the meantime, we are working on alternative arrangements in preparation for the match against Costa Rica on February 1 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. We are working with the Qatar Football Association to find an opportunity in the near future for our team to experience Qatar’s world-class facilities and hospitality.”
