Many sporting tournaments around the world, especially in the Gulf countries, have been hit by uncertainty during one of the busiest times of the year in the global sporting calendar, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has escalated across the region.
When the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday and killed its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Tehran responded with missile and drone strikes on several military bases in the Middle East where Israeli and US forces operate.
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Iranian missiles and drones have repeatedly targeted Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Manama and various parts of Saudi Arabia.
The ensuing conflict has thrown sports in the region and around the world into chaos, canceling several tournaments and suspending leagues, leaving athletes wondering what lies ahead.
Sports organizations and event organizers are scrambling to keep athletes, officials and fans safe from attacks and their consequences.
A tennis tournament in the United Arab Emirates was at the center of the storm on Tuesday, with an ATP Challenger-level event in Fujairah suspended after debris falling from a drone interceptor caught fire at an oil field about 13 km (8 miles) away.
The two players – Belarusian Daniel Ostapenkov and Japan’s Hayato Matsuka, who were on court in the middle of their match – were seen scrambling for shelter in videos posted on social media.
“I finished my match in the second round in Fujairah, but today’s match is suspended,” Ukrainian player Vladislav Orlov said on Instagram.
“When I was playing, I heard jets flying here and there and there’s smoke here, right next to the mountain, so it’s not very safe here right now.”
The tournament was subsequently canceled, and an initial email sent to players by the Professional Tennis Players Association appeared to float the idea of a one-way charter flight home at a cost of $5,800 each.
There is no indication of how the players reacted. But later, Belarusian player Ilya Ivashka wrote on Instagram: “Received confirmation that all people will be evacuated from the tournament in Fujairah at no cost. Everything fully covered. Class act @atptour.”
Football, the region’s most popular sport, has also been disrupted.
Next week’s Asian Champions League matches in the Middle East have been postponed until further notice, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Wednesday.
“The AFC’s priority remains the safety and security of all stakeholders, including players, teams, officials, partners and fans, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring a safe environment for all,” the continental body said in a statement.
Earlier this week, the Qatar Football Association suspended all matches in the country.
Qatar had been scheduled to host this month’s finals soccer match between Argentina and Spain, but European soccer body UEFA said it would not decide whether – and where – it would be played until late next week.
An exhibition match between the Copa America holders and the European champions was scheduled for March 27 at Doha’s Lusail Stadium, where Lionel Messi’s side will lift the FIFA World Cup trophy in 2022.
“Discussions are ongoing with the local organisers, who have made a tremendous effort to ensure the success of the match. A final decision is expected by the end of next week. At this stage, no alternative venue is being considered,” UEFA said in a statement to the Reuters news agency.
In addition to the impact on ongoing and immediate tournaments, Iran’s participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026 remains in doubt.
It is unclear whether Iraq will be able to travel to their playoff game in the June 11-July 19 tournament hosted by Canada, Mexico and the US.
Iran is scheduled to play the winner of the previous tie between Bolivia and Suriname in Mexico on March 31.
The motor sport season was derailed
Qatar’s hosting of the opening race of motorsport’s World Endurance Championship (WEC) has been pushed back to later this year.
The 1,812km (1,126 miles) race was scheduled for March 26 to 28 at the Lucille International Circuit, which is also used by MotoGP and Formula One.
“With the safety and security of competitors, staff and fans in mind, the decision has been taken to delay the event,” the WEC said in a statement.
The new Formula One season, which kicks off at the Australian Grand Prix on Friday, has faced transport difficulties forcing teams to charter flights to get hundreds of essential staff to Melbourne ahead of Sunday’s race.
A quarter of the F1 workforce had to travel through Middle Eastern hubs for the Grand Prix, according to several reports.
The races move to the Gulf in April, with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia hosting their Grand Prix in Sakhir and Jeddah respectively.
The Jeddah Circuit – located on the Jeddah waterfront – has faced a major security problem in the past.
In 2022, days before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, an oil storage facility 11 km (7 miles) from the circuit was hit by a Houthi drone and missile attack. Smoke could be seen billowing from the circuit as drivers, teams and F1 organizers held an emergency meeting before finally proceeding with the race.
The race will again come under scrutiny, but Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who heads global motorsport governing body the FIA, said safety was his main concern when deciding whether the races would go ahead.
“The FIA continues to monitor developments across the region and our thoughts remain with all those affected by these recent events as we hope to return to calm, safety and stability,” he said in a statement on Monday.
Both races have already sold all grandstand tickets a week before the clash, rescheduling them for later dates is another logistical nightmare for the organisers.
“With 40 days to the race, it is too early to assess the impact the regional situation may or may not have on the race weekend,” Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) officials said in a statement.
“From an operational perspective, BIC will continue its planning for the race weekend and our dedicated team and offices at the circuit are working to that effect.”
Formula One liaises closely with local authorities and the British Foreign Office and the US State Department.
Caught athletes ‘just need to go home’
The Gulf region serves as a major air transport hub, connecting East to West with millions of passengers traveling through airports in Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. But with much of its airspace currently closed, the future of sporting events outside the region has also been thrown into doubt.
Some athletes, teams and officials are stranded and unable to get to competitions or back home, further disrupting travel.
India’s two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu pulled out of badminton’s All England Open after being stuck at the Dubai airport for days and finally returned home on Tuesday.
“Back home and safe in Bangalore. The last few days have been intense and uncertain, but I am truly grateful to be back in my home,” Sindhu wrote on X, using the old name of the southern Indian city of Bangalore.
Meanwhile, the cricket teams who were recently kicked out of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup are facing delays in returning home from India, which is hosting the tournament with Sri Lanka.
Zimbabwe, West Indies and South Africa have all pulled out of the tournament this week, but are stuck in India due to the suspension of flights through the Middle East.
Some members of the Zimbabwe team were able to leave on Wednesday, three days after their last match, while the other two teams remained in India.
West Indies coach Darren Sammy took to social media to express his frustration, suggesting his team had not received an update on their journey home for five days. His post on Thursday said: “I want to go home”. However, he later posted: “Got the update. That’s all WI wanted.”
South Africa’s elimination came late on Wednesday, when they lost to New Zealand in the first semi-final.
England, who will face India in the second semi-final on Thursday, will face a similar fate if they lose.
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