From F1 Bahrain GP to FIFA World Cup 2026 - Full List of Major Sporting Events Disrupted by US-Israel-Iran Conflict

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The ongoing conflict between Israel, the United States of America, and Iran has disrupted life around the World. Major sporting events from football to Formula 1 have been disrupted by the War in the Middle East region. There have been cancellations of F1 races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the Finalissima between Spain and Argentina has also been called off. Other sports like tennis, badminton, and cricket have also suffered from the West Asia War. Here is a look at the list of all the major sporting events disrupted due to the ongoing conflict in the Gulf region.

Spain vs Argentina ‘Finalissima’ Called Off

The Finalissima, originally scheduled to be played on the 27th of March between Spain and Argentina, has been called off. It was supposed to be played in Doha, Qatar, but it was not possible due to conflict in the region. There were originally plans to play the high-stakes encounter at a different venue, but a mutual decision was not reached between the two federations.

F1 Races Called Off

Formula 1 called off its Bahrain Grand Prix and the Saudi Arabia GP. Both of these races were scheduled to be played in April. However, with no signs of de-escalation in the region, the safety of players was under threat, leading to the races being called off.

MotoGP Postpones Qatar GP

MotoGP also postponed its Grand Prix in Qatar. It was scheduled to take place next month but was postponed to November due to the conflict in the region. The postponement of the race set in a domino effect, leading to dates being changed for the Portugal Grand Prix and the final race of the season, the Valencia GP.

ATP Challenger in the UAE Cancelled

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Challenger scheduled to take place in Fujairah was called off due to the risk to players’ safety. The players who were stranded in the region had to be flown by chartered flights organised by tournament organisers.

Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev were among the players who were stranded while competing in the Dubai Tennis Championships. They were affected by travel difficulties before heading to the United States for Indian Wells.

Donald Trump warns Iran about FIFA World Cup Participation

Iran, being one of the three countries involved in the war in West Asia, made the decision to boycott the FIFA World Cup to be played in the United States. The US, along with Israel, has managed to land multiple strikes in Iran. Donald Trump, the President of the USA, warned Iran before it participated in the FIFA World Cup. On the Truth Social platform, Trump said, “The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”

Iran’s Sports and Youth Minister, Ahmad Donyamali, talked about the country’s decision to boycott the tournament. He said, “Given that this corrupt government has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances do we have the appropriate conditions to participate in the World Cup. Our boys are not safe, and conditions for participation do not exist.”

PV Sindhu withdraws from the All-England Open

Indian shuttler PV Sindhu decided to withdraw from the All-England Open after being stranded at the Dubai International Airport for days. She eventually returned to India on the 3rd of March. The All-England Open began on the same day, which meant she had to withdraw from the tournament.

Iranian Women footballers seek asylum in Australia

Five Iranian Women footballers were granted asylum in Australia after the team decided not to sing the national anthem during an Asian Cup match. The players feared that they would be persecuted if they returned home. There were reports that two more athletes were being assisted by the Australian authorities, but one of them decided to go back to Iran.

Iraq Coach calls for postponing the FIFA World Cup Qualifier

Iraq’s men’s football team coach, Graham Arnold, requested that FIFA postpone their qualifier match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 to be held in Mexico. The federation believes travel constraints would prevent them from reaching Monterrey, a city in Mexico, in time to play the crucial clash.

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka T20I and ODI Series called off

Afghanistan were set to host Sri Lanka for a three-match T20I and a three-match ODI series in the UAE. However, the current situation in the country meant that the series scheduled to begin on the 13th of March had to be postponed until the end of year.

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