Iran’s conflict with the U.S. and Israel has led to sporting events being postponed in several countries, while competitions elsewhere have been hit by travel disruption, with thousands of flights cancelled in some of the world’s busiest transit hubs.
The International Paralympic Committee said it is working to find solutions after several athletes were finding it difficult to travel to the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympic Games due to travel disruptions in several Middle Eastern airports.
The ATP Tour later said a charter flight had been arranged , “fully funded by the ATP to assist with departures from the region at no cost to players”.
The U.S. men’s hockey team withdrew from a hockey World Cup 2026 qualifier in Ismailia, Egypt, after an official advisory from the State Department urging all U.S. citizens to leave nations within or close to conflict zones.
The International Hockey Federation said the U.S. team had withdrawn with the body’s “full support” and the team departed Egypt earlier on Wednesday.
All sporting events in Iran have been cancelled until further notice, including the country’s top-flight Persian Gulf Pro League.
The Qatar Football Association indefinitely postponed all soccer matches in the country, putting in doubt a clash between Spain and Argentina set for Doha on March 27. The Bahraini FA also halted all domestic competitions.
Round of 16 clashes featuring Middle Eastern clubs in the Asian Champions League Elite in the first two weeks of March have been postponed until further notice .
Next week’s quarter-final clashes in the Asian Champions League Two and the Asian Challenge League featuring clubs from the region are also postponed, the continental soccer body (AFC) said on Wednesday.
