Middle East conflict disrupts global sporting calendar

The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has begun to disrupt sporting events across the Middle East, forcing cancellations and postponements while causing major travel disruptions for athletes and teams worldwide.

Several major motorsport events have been affected. Formula One announced that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix scheduled for April would not take place due to security concerns in the Middle East.

Similarly, MotoGP postponed the Qatar Grand Prix to November. Organisers also adjusted the calendar for the Portuguese Grand Prix and the season finale in Valencia.

In football, the “Finalissima” match between European champions Spain national football team and Argentina national football team scheduled in Qatar has been cancelled.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump said Iran’s national team could participate in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup but added it might not be appropriate for the players due to safety concerns. Iran have already qualified for the tournament, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Travel disruption across Middle Eastern airports has also impacted athletes preparing for major events. Several competitors were unable to reach the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games due to flight cancellations.

Tennis competitions were also affected when the Dubai Tennis Championships saw players face travel challenges. Russian players Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev were among those struggling to reach the Indian Wells Open in California.

Read More: Dubai moves to protect ‘safe haven’ image amid Iran attacks

Indian badminton star PV Sindhu also withdrew from the All England Open Badminton Championships after being stranded at Dubai airport for several days.

Football competitions in Asia have also been affected. The Asian Football Confederation postponed several knockout matches in the AFC Champions League Elite and other continental competitions involving clubs from the region.

Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Cricket Board postponed a limited-overs series between Afghanistan national cricket team and Sri Lanka national cricket team that was scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates.

In endurance racing, the opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship scheduled for March 28 in Qatar has been postponed to October.

Authorities in Iran have also suspended all sporting activities, including the Persian Gulf Pro League, while neighbouring countries such as Bahrain halted domestic competitions amid security concerns.

The conflict has also affected teams and coaches. Former Italy manager Roberto Mancini was unable to return to Doha for a Qatar Stars League match involving his club Al Sadd.

Sports officials warn that if the conflict continues, more global events and competitions could face disruption due to security concerns and ongoing travel restrictions.