Sports
World sports on edge as Iran conflict raises event uncertainty
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lewis Hamilton are among the top athletes whose schedules face uncertainty as the Middle East conflict intensifies.
Cancellations and travel restrictions are already affecting events after the United States and Israel launched a series of strikes on Iran Saturday.
Organizers of Formula One races and major football fixtures now face tough decisions on whether competitions can proceed as planned.
Over the past decade, Middle Eastern nations have become central to global sports, hosting major events, funding teams and employing some of the world’s top athletes.
Pressure is mounting over the Finalissima football match on March 27 in Qatar, which would see European champions Spain face South American champions Argentina. The game offers Messi another shot at adding to his glittering trophy haul.
Qatar suspended all football matches Sunday until further notice. Argentina was also scheduled to face Qatar in a friendly on March 31.
“UEFA is monitoring and carefully assessing all developments in cooperation with CONMEBOL and the local organizing committee,” European football body UEFA told The Associated Press Monday.
Ronaldo’s football team, Saudi club Al-Nassr, has already been affected by a wave of cancellations of Asian Champions League games. The team was scheduled to play Wednesday in Dubai.
F1 has races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia next month. Teams typically start flying in staff and equipment weeks in advance, limiting the time to make a decision on whether to proceed. Governing body FIA said its priority is “safety and well-being.”
The men’s and women’s tennis tours and golf’s European Tour have just finished their Middle East tournament swings and are not due back for months. The LPGA Tour is playing a tournament in China this week, then most players will head east back to North America, so their travel should be unaffected.
Iran is due to send its men’s football team to the U.S. for the World Cup in just over three months, with a first game June 16 against New Zealand in Inglewood, California.
There is doubt over whether Iran can or will take part in the tournament. Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj said, “We cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope.”
The U.S. government has promised exemptions from its travel bans for athletes and coaches at events like the World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Even if some events go ahead, a major concern for athletes and teams will be how they can travel in and out of the region safely.
Former U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev is among a group of tennis players waiting in Dubai for a chance to fly out after a tournament concluded there last week. Delays could affect the BNP Paribas Open starting Wednesday in Indian Wells, California.
There are also travel difficulties for some athletes heading to the Winter Paralympics, which start Friday in Italy. The International Paralympic Committee said most teams are already in Europe for training and it is helping others with travel. Iran is expected to have one skier at the Paralympics.
Cricket and basketball players face challenges as well, along with thousands of foreign tourists. The West Indies cricket team that participated in the Twenty20 World Cup has been stranded in India while awaiting clearance to return to the Caribbean.
Formula One personnel are also seeking alternative travel routes to avoid the region on their way to this week’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
The Middle East’s influence on world sports has surged in recent years as countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar have hosted major events and become crucial financial backers.
Besides football and auto racing, Qatar has a World Endurance Championship sportscar race this month, a MotoGP motorcycle race, a gymnastics World Cup next month, and hosts the first Diamond League track meet of the year in May.
Qatar also owns the Champions League-winning football team Paris Saint-Germain.
Saudi Arabia, which will host the 2034 World Cup in men’s football, has funded the LIV Golf breakaway league and become a major player in world boxing.
The Houston Rockets overcame a late surge by the Washington Wizards to claim a 123-118 victory Monday night at Capital One Arena, fueled by standout performances from Alperen Şengün and Kevin Durant.
Şengün poured in 32 points with 13 rebounds, while Durant added 30 points, seven assists, six boards, and a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line in a rare appearance near his Maryland home this season.
Houston established control early, capitalizing on Washington’s inside struggles.
The Wizards hit 12 of 19 three-pointers in the first half but managed just 6 of 28 on two-point attempts, giving the Rockets a 60-51 halftime lead.
Amen Thompson and Durant fueled a decisive third-quarter run, expanding the lead to 18.
Though Washington rallied with a 38-point fourth quarter, including big contributions from Bilal Coulibaly (23 points) and Sharife Cooper (21), Houston held on, sealing the win with clutch free throws and Şengün’s finishing inside.
Rising stars shone alongside Houston’s veterans.
Thompson contributed 22 points and 12 rebounds, showcasing the athleticism that makes him one of the league’s top young forwards.
Rookie Reed Sheppard recorded his first career double-double with 19 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, and six steals, tying a Rockets rookie record for steals in a game since James Harden.
Şengün’s versatile scoring, 13 of 20 from the field, including crafty post moves, and rebounding anchored Houston’s interior presence and control of the glass.
For the Wizards, injuries and roster transitions remain central.
Trae Young, expected to debut Thursday against Utah after limited action with Atlanta due to knee and quadriceps injuries, was ejected in the third quarter after leaving the bench during a scuffle between Houston’s Tari Eason and Washington’s Jamir Watkins.
Washington coach Brian Keefe had anticipated Young’s near-term return, but the ejection highlighted ongoing integration challenges for the All-Star guard.
Other Wizards contributions included Coulibaly’s efficient scoring and Cooper’s dynamic playmaking off the bench.
Rookie center Julian Reese, brother of WNBA star Angel Reese, made his NBA debut, starting and logging 28 minutes despite fouling out with two points.
Houston shot 48% from the field, 35% from three, and dominated inside the paint 64-48.
Turnovers and free throws played a critical role: Washington committed 18 miscues, leading to 24 points for Houston, while the Rockets went 28-of-32 from the line.
Looking ahead, Houston hosts the Golden State Warriors Thursday, aiming to continue their push in the Western Conference standings. The Wizards visit Orlando Tuesday, trying to integrate Young and build momentum for the remainder of a season focused on youth development.
Fenerbahçe head to Gaziantep Stadium Wednesday to face Gaziantep FK in the fourth matchday of Group C in the Ziraat Turkish Cup, aiming to bounce back from a challenging run in the Süper Lig and refocus on domestic silverware.
Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. local time.
The Yellow Canaries have struggled in recent league action, drawing 1-1 at home to Kasımpaşa on Feb. 23 and 2-2 at Antalyaspor on March 1, dropping points that leave them second in the standings with 54 points from 15 wins and nine draws.
Their European campaign also ended abruptly, with a 4-3 aggregate defeat to Nottingham Forest in the UEFA Europa League playoff round, despite a 2-1 away win in the second leg on Feb. 26.
In the Turkish Cup, Fenerbahçe stumbled in their opener against arch-rivals Beşiktaş, losing 2-1 at home, but followed with wins over Beyoğlu Yeni Çarşı Spor (3-1) and Erzurumspor FK (1-0), placing them third in Group C with six points and a plus-two goal difference.
With only the top two in the five-team group guaranteed knockout spots, a win against Gaziantep FK is vital to secure advancement.
Gaziantep FK has proven a tough opponent at home, beating Kocaelispor 4-1 and Rizespor 3-2 while narrowly losing 1-0 to Beşiktaş.
Fenerbahçe has historically dominated the fixture, winning eight of the last ten meetings, including a 2-0 league victory at home on November 23, 2025, but the host’s home form combined with Fenerbahçe’s recent inconsistencies sets up a competitive showdown.
Adding to Fenerbahçe’s challenges is a growing injury list.
Key absentees include defenders Milan Skriniar and Çağlar Söyüncü, midfield anchor Edson Alvarez, creative midfielder Anderson Talisca, and right-back Nelson Semedo, who was recently involved in a car accident.
Backup options such as Jayden Oosterwolde, Mert Müldür, and Tarık Çetin could be called upon, while forwards Kerem Aktürkoğlu and Marco Asensio will be asked to lead the attack.
Head coach Domenico Tedesco, who guided Fenerbahçe to an unbeaten league start until the recent draws, will lean on squad depth and tactical flexibility to navigate the injury-hit lineup.
A win in Gaziantep would not only keep their cup ambitions alive but also provide momentum heading into their Süper Lig clash with Adana Demirspor on March 8.
Fenerbahçe supporters, known for their passionate backing and a fan base exceeding 50,000 official members, will hope for a decisive performance to reignite the team’s winning rhythm.
Beşiktaş lead Group C with seven points and a plus-four goal difference, followed by Gaziantep FK with six points and a plus-two goal difference, while Fenerbahçe sit third with six points and the same goal difference.
Rizespor and Kocaelispor trail the group, leaving Fenerbahçe with little margin for error in a must-win encounter.
Lionel Messi scored twice, Telasco Segovia netted the go-ahead goal in the 85th minute and added two assists, and Inter Miami rallied for a 4-2 victory over Orlando City on Sunday night.
Trailing 2-0 at halftime, the Herons responded with four unanswered goals in the second half. Mateo Silvetti sparked the comeback with a goal and an assist as Miami erased the deficit. The victory moved Inter Miami to 1-1-0 for three points, a strong response after a 3-0 season-opening loss to Los Angeles FC.
Messi began the rally with a goal in the 57th minute and added another in the 90th, giving him eight goals in five career meetings with Orlando City in all competitions.
Marco Pasalic and Martin Ojeda scored for Orlando City, which fell to 0-2-0 after losing control in the second half.
Orlando failed to clear its defensive third on the decisive sequence. Miami’s Germán Berterame gained possession to start the play. Segovia eventually received the ball and fired a right-footed shot into the net in the 85th minute.
Three minutes later, Orlando City’s Colin Guske was shown a second yellow card for pulling down Messi. The automatic red card reduced the Lions to 10 men for the remainder of the match, which included 10 minutes of stoppage time.
Messi converted a free kick in the 90th minute, curling a left-footed shot past the wall and inside the left post to extend Miami’s lead to two goals.
Dayne St. Clair made three saves for Miami, which outshot Orlando City 16-12 and put eight shots on target to the Lions’ five. Maxime Crepeau finished with four saves for Orlando.
Orlando City won both regular-season meetings last season, 4-0 and 3-1.
Silvetti cut the deficit in the 49th minute, striking a right-footed shot from outside the box into the left corner. Messi equalized eight minutes later, placing a left-footed shot inside the right post.
Ojeda nearly restored Orlando City’s lead in the 70th minute, but St. Clair made a kick save on his close-range attempt.
Orlando opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Ivan Angulo set up Pasalic, whose left-footed shot deflected off St. Clair and into the net. Six minutes later, the Lions doubled the lead as Ojeda completed a give-and-go with Griffin Dorsey and sent a right-footed shot into the right corner.
Crepeau made three saves in the first half, including one on Messi in the 28th minute. Messi also sent a late first-half free kick wide left.
Barcelona walk into Tuesday semifinal second leg against Atletico Madrid carrying the weight of a 4-0 first-leg humiliation, knowing that anything short of an extraordinary performance at Camp Nou will end their Copa del Rey campaign.
The defeat in Madrid was not merely a loss but a tactical and physical dismantling, as Diego Simeone’s side imposed their tempo, dominated key duels and exposed gaps that Hansi Flick’s men could neither close nor compensate for.
An early own goal by Eric Garcia tilted the tie in Atletico’s favor, and from there the visitors played with ruthless clarity.
Antoine Griezmann added to the tally, Ademola Lookman struck with power and Julian Alvarez capped a devastating first half that left Barcelona reeling before the interval.
For a club accustomed to controlling ties rather than chasing them, the scale of the deficit presents both a psychological and structural test, because overturning four goals against one of Europe’s most disciplined defensive units requires patience, precision and relentless attacking conviction without sacrificing balance at the back.
There are, however, strands of optimism woven into Barcelona’s season that prevent this contest from feeling entirely lost.
Flick’s side sit top of La Liga and arrive on the back of a convincing 4-1 win over Villarreal, a match illuminated by Lamine Yamal’s first senior hat trick, which underlined the teenager’s growing influence and willingness to shoulder responsibility on the biggest stages.
The return of Pedri, Raphinha and Marcus Rashford after missing the first leg restores creativity between the lines and pace in wide areas, giving Barcelona the technical tools that were absent in Madrid.
Even so, the injury list continues to shape the narrative.
Eric Garcia is suspended following his red card, Robert Lewandowski is sidelined with a fractured eye socket, Andreas Christensen remains out with a cruciate ligament injury and Frenkie de Jong is unavailable due to a thigh problem, while Gavi, although back in training, is unlikely to be risked from the start.
Ferran Torres is therefore expected to lead the line, tasked not only with scoring but also with initiating the aggressive press that could unsettle Atletico’s buildup.
Atletico, for their part, travel to Catalonia in a position of authority built on structure, discipline and experience.
Simeone’s blueprint rarely wavers in high-stakes knockout ties, and with a four-goal cushion, his team are expected to defend in compact lines, restrict central spaces and wait for moments to counter through Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth, with Lookman offering thrust from deeper positions.
Koke and Marcos Llorente will provide balance and control in midfield, while Nahuel Molina anchors a back line that understands the value of concentration over spectacle.
Their recent form supports their confidence, with three wins in their last five matches, including a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Real Oviedo in which Alvarez struck late, reinforcing the sense that Atletico have added efficiency in front of goal to their traditional defensive resilience.
Even with Johnny Cardoso ruled out through injury and Pablo Barrios still sidelined, the visitors possess both the personnel and the temperament to manage momentum swings in hostile environments.
Recent meetings between these sides have produced decisive outcomes rather than stalemates, and that pattern suggests Tuesday’s contest will again lean toward drama rather than caution, particularly if Barcelona find an early breakthrough that forces Atletico to adjust their shape.
The 2026 Finalissima, set to feature a high-stakes showdown between UEFA Euro 2024 champions Spain and Copa America 2024 winners Argentina, now hangs in uncertainty after the Qatar Football Association (QFA) announced an indefinite suspension of all football activities.
Scheduled for March 27 at Lusail Stadium in Doha, the match promised a collision of generations, with Barcelona teen Lamine Yamal representing Spain and Inter Miami legend Lionel Messi leading Argentina.
But escalating regional tensions, sparked by U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the Arabian Peninsula, have upended the sporting calendar.
The Finalissima, a modern revival of the Artemio Franchi Cup, pits the reigning champions of Europe and South America against each other.
Argentina captured the first post-revival edition in 2022, defeating Italy 3-0 at Wembley, giving Messi his inaugural trophy in the competition.
Spain secured its spot after edging England 2-1 in the Euro 2024 final, while Argentina defended its Copa America crown with a 1-0 extra-time win over Colombia.
UEFA and CONMEBOL confirmed the Lusail Stadium as the venue in December 2025, part of a broader “Qatar Football Festival” running March 26-31, which included exhibition matches like Qatar vs. Serbia.
Ticket demand reflected global anticipation.
Over 80,000 seats sold out within hours, underscoring the allure of a Messi vs. Yamal matchup.
Lusail Stadium, which hosted the 2022 World Cup final, was set to provide a neutral yet symbolically charged stage.
Kick-off was scheduled for 9:00 p.m. local time (7:00 p.m. CET, 3:00 p.m. Argentina time), with millions expected to watch across broadcast and streaming platforms.
The QFA announcement on March 1 suspended all tournaments, competitions, and matches until further notice, citing no specific reason but coinciding with a spike in regional insecurity.
Bahrain followed suit, and the Asian Football Confederation postponed multiple Champions League fixtures in the Gulf, including the round of 16 and quarterfinal stages.
The geopolitical crisis fueling these disruptions erupted on Feb. 28, when U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian military sites, nuclear facilities, and leadership compounds, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and over 40 senior officials.
Iran retaliated on March 1 with a barrage of missiles and drones hitting U.S. and allied targets across the Gulf, including Qatar.
Doha reported explosions and industrial fires, while regional strikes caused at least four deaths and more than 100 injuries, damaging ports, airports, and civilian infrastructure in the UAE and beyond.
The conflict has widened, with clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon and incidents like U.S. warplanes downed in Kuwait.
Gulf nations have heightened defenses, intercepted hundreds of projectiles, and lodged diplomatic protests.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE condemned Iran’s strikes, highlighting the growing insecurity that now shadows international sporting events.
For the Finalissima, the ultimate decision rests with UEFA, CONMEBOL, and FIFA.
While no official postponement has been declared, sources indicate FIFA is closely monitoring safety conditions, weighing potential rescheduling or relocation.
Spanish outlet AS described the match as “up in the air,” while Argentine journalist Gaston Edul noted FIFA’s cautious stance.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation confirmed “no news of a potential suspension,” though the rapidly shifting situation could force last-minute changes.
Former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, along with his family and team, found themselves stranded in Dubai on Sunday, just a day after claiming his 23rd ATP title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Tallon Griekspoor, who withdrew from the final due to injury, and Andrey Rublev were also stuck in the city after airspace closures followed U.S. airstrikes on Iran on Saturday.
Medvedev, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, told Bolshe Tennis he has no idea when he will be able to leave the United Arab Emirates.
He and the other players are scheduled to compete at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, where main-draw matches begin Wednesday.
“The situation is unusual, but basically, the only thing is that the airspace is closed, naturally,” Medvedev told Bolshe Tennis in Russian, according to tennisuptodate.com. “So, no one knows when we’ll be able to fly out. It’s not clear whether this will last long or not.
“We’re just waiting to see what happens in the coming hours or days. They keep gradually pushing back the airport reopening time.”
Medvedev said he is coping well under the circumstances and has been able to remain calm.
“As strange as that sounds, on the court, I’m very emotional, but in real life, it might actually help me to be more emotional at times – so, for me, everything is normal,” Medvedev said. “Naturally, I’ve received a lot of messages from friends and family, and everyone is worried, but I can say for my part that everything is fine.”
Medvedev is slated to participate in the Eisenhower Cup mixed doubles exhibition at Indian Wells on Tuesday. His doubles partner is young Russian WTA star Mirra Andreeva.
Rublev, 28, is also slated to be part of the Eisenhower Cup. The Russian’s doubles partner is American star Amanda Anisimova.
Medvedev, 30, also won the Dubai title in 2023. He was ranked 11th in the world entering the event.
Griekspoor, a Dutchman ranked 25th, injured his left hamstring during his semifinal victory over Rublev, the 18th-ranked player.
The other singles semifinalist, Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, left on one of the final flights to leave the city on Saturday, according to the Montreal Gazette.
His agent, Olivier van Lindonk, told the newspaper Auger-Aliassime made it to Indian Wells and was slated to practice on Sunday.
Auger-Aliassime lost to Medvedev in the semis. He’s ranked No. 8 in the world.
Doubles players Harri Heliovaara (Finland), Mate Pavic (Croatia), Henry Patten (Great Britain) and Marcelo Arevalo (El Salvador) are also reportedly stranded. Heliovaara and Patten defeated Pavic and Arevalo in the Dubai doubles final.
In addition, various coaches and officials, as well as tennis journalists, also remain in Dubai.
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