The US and Israel war with Iran has entered its 12th day. According to a Reuters report, over 1,300 Iranian civilians have been killed since the US and Israeli air strikes began on Feb. 28, 2026. The war has plunged the world in crisis and has also affected the world of sports.
The schedule of several international sports events has been affected while travel disruptions have meant that athletes and teams are unable to travel. Here is a look how the Middle East crisis is affecting sporting events and athletes.
1. Afghanistan-Sri Lanka bilateral cricket series postponed
Afghanistan were due to host Sri Lanka in the UAE for a three-match ODI series followed by a three-match T20I tournament. The matches were to be played from March 13 to 25. However, due to the ongoing war, the series has been postponed. Cricbuzz has reported that the series is now likely to be played in the last quarter of the year.
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2. Asian Weightlifting Championship delayed
The Asian Weightlifting Championship was expected to be held in Gandhinagar from April 1 to 10. The even has been delayed and will now be held from from May 12 to 17.
3. ATP cancels Fujairah Open
On March 4, Association of Tennis Professionals was forced to cancel the Fujairah Open in the UAE, a second-tier event on the ATP Challenger Tour, after an oil terminal nearby was hit. The matches continued to happen despite the strikes from Iran, but once the oil terminal was hit, the games were halted as the situation was considered as "not very safe."
4. USA withdraws from FIH Men's Hockey World Cup qualifier
USA's field hockey team was playing the 2026 Hockey World Cup qualifier in Ismailia, Egypt and were due to play against China on March 6. But the war forced the team to withdraw its participation from the tournament. As a result, USA's remaining games were cancelled and China got a walkover.
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5. Asian Champions League matches affected
The round of 16 ties featuring Middle Eastern clubs in the Asian Champions League Elite in the first two weeks of March have been postponed. The quarterfinal clashes in the Asian Champions League Two to be played next week and the Asian Challenge League featuring clubs from the region are also postponed.
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