The US-Israel conflict with Iran has led to sporting events in the region being postponed, while competitions elsewhere have been hit by travel disruptions, with thousands of flights canceled in some of the world’s busiest transit hubs.
Bahrain, Saudi F1 races canceled, Qatar MotoGP postponed
The Formula 1 Grands Prix of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will not take place in April due to the conflict in the Middle East, the sport announced on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the MotoGP Grand Prix of Qatar, scheduled for next month, has been postponed to November, with the result that the dates for the Grand Prix of Portugal and the season finale in Valencia have also been changed.
Finalissima match between Spain and Argentina cancelled
The ‘Finalissima’ match between European champions Spain and Copa America winners Argentina, which was due to take place in Qatar later this month, has been cancelled.
Trump thinks it is inappropriate for Iran to be present at the World Cup
U.S. President Donald Trump said on March 12 that the Iranian soccer team was welcome to participate in this year’s World Cup but that he felt it was not appropriate for them to be there “for their own lives and safety.”
Iran has qualified for the 48-team tournament to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 and is scheduled to play two group matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
Arrivals of athletes at Paralympic Games disrupted
Several athletes were unable to travel to the Paralympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina due to travel disruptions at several airports in the Middle East.
In addition, Iran will not participate in the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, the International Paralympic Committee announced on March 6.
Tennis in the UAE halted due to safety warning
The ATP Challenger event in Fujairah was canceled on March 3 due to security concerns after a security alert halted play. The ATP Tour said a charter flight had been arranged “at no cost to the players”.
Russians Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, who competed in the Dubai Tennis Championships, were among the players who encountered difficulties before traveling to California for the Indian Wells Open.
Sindhu withdraws from Badminton’s All England Open
Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu withdrew from the All England Open after being stranded at Dubai airport for days. She returned to India on March 3.
The US withdraws from the World Cup hockey qualifier
The U.S. men’s hockey team withdrew from a 2026 Hockey World Cup qualifying match in Ismailia, Egypt, following an official State Department advisory urging all U.S. citizens to leave countries within or near conflict zones.
Asian Champions League matches postponed
Round of 16 matches against Middle Eastern clubs in the Asian Champions League Elite in the first two weeks of March have been postponed.
Quarter-finals in the Asian Champions League Two and the Asian Challenge League, featuring clubs from the region, will also be postponed, AFC, the continental football body, said on Wednesday.
Iranian female footballers receive asylum
Australia on March 10 granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian female footballers after they applied for asylum, fearing persecution upon their return home over their refusal to sing the national anthem at an Asian Cup match.
Australian police helped two members of Iran’s women’s football delegation apply for asylum on March 11, but one changed his mind and decided to return to Iran.
Concerns over the players’ safety upon their return home increased after Iranian state television branded the team “wartime traitors.”
Iraqi coach calls for postponement of World Cup play-off match
Iraqi football coach Graham Arnold called for the postponement of the team’s inter-confederation World Cup play-off in Mexico in March, amid the travel chaos caused by the conflict in neighboring Iran.
The Iraqis are concerned that they may not be able to get their players and staff to Mexico for their scheduled match against Bolivia or Suriname in Monterrey on March 31.
Series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka postponed
The limited-overs series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, scheduled for March in the United Arab Emirates, has been postponed due to the crisis in the Middle East, the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced on March 11.
WEC postpones season opener in Qatar
The World Endurance Championship has postponed its season-opening race originally scheduled for March 28 at the Lusail circuit in Qatar.
Organizers have announced new dates, with the race now taking place between October 22 and 24.
Sporting events canceled in Iran, football resumed in Qatar
All sporting events in Iran have been canceled until further notice, including the Persian Gulf Pro League, the country’s top league. The Bahrain Football Association has also suspended all domestic competitions.
Qatar’s top football league resumed on March 12 after a nationwide suspension of sporting activities due to regional security concerns, the Qatar Stars League Foundation said.
Mancini cannot return to Qatar
Al Sadd coach Roberto Mancini did not attend Friday’s Qatar Stars League match against Umm Salal as he was unable to return to Doha.
